UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the continental championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
