British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
