British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
