British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
