UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
