UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
