UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton stood for.
