UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising forming under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
