UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.
