British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
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 competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
