British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
