UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances 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 strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
