British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a roar of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with official scores of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, everything their hero the legend represented.
