British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the continental belt.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
