British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
