British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their idol the legend embodied.
