British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.
