UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
