British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental championship.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
