British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the continental championship.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
