British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career 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 tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental title.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
