UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
