UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the continental belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
