British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to secure the continental belt.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
