British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
