British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.
