UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
