UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
