UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton stood for.
