UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
