British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
