UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, everything their hero the legend embodied.
