UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Match
His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
