British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, deserved the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.
