British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
