UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist'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, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to win the continental belt.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
