UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
