British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
