In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of Manchester’s own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton’s death. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a roar of “there’s only one Ricky Hatton”.
The action inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea – in rival City blue – was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
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