UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors willing 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 during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
