For my personal taste I definitely prefer the second photo for the background, depth of field and composition (first photo is too centered for me).
If something doesn't add to a photo, then don't include it and this is why I prefer the background in the second photo. It is a clean background, but it is so without being so clean that it looks sterile or artificial.
I don't see the out of focus lighter areas in the first photo adding anything in this case. They are just distracting.
