UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
