British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental title.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and brave, everything their idol the legend represented.
