UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, merited the decision but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
