UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental belt.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
