UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the silence became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and courageous, everything their idol the legend embodied.
