UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
