British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the continental belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
