UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the silence became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
