British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
