UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the continental championship.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their idol the legend embodied.
