UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.
