British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero the legend stood for.
