British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
