UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
