UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry battle to capture the continental belt.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol the legend embodied.
