UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.
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 felt the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
