British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
