UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Match
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
