UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, everything their idol the legend represented.
