British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
