British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
