British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, merited the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has plateaued in recent times through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few 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 making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
