UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Match
His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the continental championship.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
