UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated 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 making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
