British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.
