British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.
