British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, 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 bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
