UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
