British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
