UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol the legend embodied.
