UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning 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 close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the continental title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
