British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the continental title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
