British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
