UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
