UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol the legend stood for.
