UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
