UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their idol the legend represented.
