British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
