British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the continental belt.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
