UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
