British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning 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, deserved the decision but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Match
His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of even score, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.
