British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
