British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.
