British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
