UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the continental championship.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
