UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the continental belt.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their hero the legend stood for.
