UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.
