UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
