UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
