British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.
