British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental belt.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend stood for.
