British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
