British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority 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 match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback 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 fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol the legend represented.
