British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
