UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life 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 competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback 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 the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the continental title.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence became a roar of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
