UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
