UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
