UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a roar of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.
