British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent 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 made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
