UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.
