British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
