UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, 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 appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
