British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
