British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with official scores of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
