British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
