British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
