British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
