British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
