British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental title.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face 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. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur edged the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
