UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
