British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated 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 during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the continental title.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
