UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the continental championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
