British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life 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 split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, everything their hero the legend stood for.
