British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the continental belt.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
