British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
