UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
