British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Encounter
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 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 silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
