UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as ten bells tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and brave, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
