UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the continental belt.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
