UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
