British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a decision win 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 bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
