British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the pair landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
