British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky 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 disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton represented.
