UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the continental title.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the stillness became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.
