UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
