British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
