UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his face as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.
