British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
