UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
