British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton stood for.
