UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
