British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the continental title.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
