UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
