British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
