British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters 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 boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, merited the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the continental championship.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.
