UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his face as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
