British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, everything their idol Hatton represented.
