British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
