British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
