UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend embodied.
