British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as 10 bells rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
