UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
