British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair
His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells 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 seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his eye as the pair landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
