British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their hero the legend stood for.
