UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
