British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and brave, everything their hero the legend represented.
