UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
