British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
