British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed Parker, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to secure the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
