British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Ricky 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 initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
