UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with official scores of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
