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 Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
