UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the duo landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
