UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
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 the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
