British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience decreased during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
