British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
