British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.
