Parker's boxing career started in West Oakland, in the Boys and Girls Club.
In 1986, Parker fought as a National Golden Gloves Champion and also became a member of the American Olympic boxing team.
Parker defeated Russian opponents six times--a record for an American boxer.
Moving up in weight class, he went on to win the WBC Light Heavyweight Continental Americas title on October 2, 1991.
He held a 14-6-1 record before his career was cut short by a 13-year prison sentence for possession of controlled substances.