UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
