British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.
