British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, everything their idol Hatton represented.
