British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to capture the continental title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.
