UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the continental title.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
