UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
