British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
