British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage developing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
