British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
