UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
