UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.
