British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.
