British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.
