British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.
