British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their idol the legend embodied.
