UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
