UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
