UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the better periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
