UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the quiet became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
