UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental belt.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
