UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Encounter
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry contest to win the continental championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
