UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Encounter
His career development has slowed in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their idol the legend stood for.
