UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
