British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor 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 claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
