UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
