UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the stillness became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
