UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
