British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
