British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
