UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.
