British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the stillness became a roar of "only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
