British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning 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 split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
