British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming 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 majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the continental championship.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
