British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a cagey 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 competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas 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 the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
