British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their hero the legend embodied.
