British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
