UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the result with official scores of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
