UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.
