UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
