UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his face as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
