UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
