British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
