British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.
