British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the continental belt.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
