British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend stood for.
