UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
