UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
