UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
