UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, merited the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
