British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their idol the legend represented.
