UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
