British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision 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 contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
