British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
