British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
