British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the continental belt.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their idol the legend represented.
