UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, merited the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
