UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Encounter
His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
