British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
