UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory 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 Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Match
His career development has plateaued in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence became a roar of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.
