British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut 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 split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
