UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton stood for.
