British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw 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. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
