British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
