UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Match
His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
