British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches 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 judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.
