UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the continental belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
