British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero the legend stood for.
