UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 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 kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
