British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.
