UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - 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 likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the continental belt.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
