UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Secures Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the continental title.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
