British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Slow Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
