British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the continental championship.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton represented.
