British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life 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 majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Match
His career development has slowed in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the continental championship.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
