UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend stood for.
