British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
