British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the continental title.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
