UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.
