British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
