UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
