British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the continental title.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the pair landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.
