UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
