British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
