UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
