British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
