UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.
