UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, everything their hero Hatton represented.
