UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Slow Match
His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, 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.
The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental title.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
