British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
