UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to secure the continental title.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
