British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
