British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
