UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life 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 competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
