British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss 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 light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
