British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the continental belt.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.
