British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
