British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
