UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
