British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his eye as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
