British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, everything their idol Hatton represented.
