British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
