UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Match
His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.
