UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
