UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, everything their idol the legend embodied.
