UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, 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 be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of even score, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
