UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start 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 close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his face as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.
