British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated initial 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 making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the continental championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.
