British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Secures Win in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
