UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
