UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their hero Hatton represented.
