UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the continental championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
