British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.
