British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management 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 contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
