British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the continental belt.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their hero Hatton embodied.
