British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
