UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Match
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a calculated 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 mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the continental championship.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.
