British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
