UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Match
His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the continental championship.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their idol the legend stood for.
