UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.
