British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the continental title.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and brave, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
