British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the silence became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
