British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
