UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
