UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
