British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
