British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
