British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.
