British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their hero Hatton embodied.
