British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
