UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend represented.
