UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the decision but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the continental championship.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend embodied.
