UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their idol the legend represented.
