UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
