British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
