British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the continental championship.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
