British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
