British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City 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 the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
