UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.
