British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the continental championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
