British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future 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 new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero the legend represented.
