UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
