British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
