UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
