British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, everything their idol the legend represented.
