UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
