UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside 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 his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the continental belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
