UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
