British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
