UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands 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 ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their hero the legend represented.
