British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
