UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just 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 tight guard to barely take the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
