UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and brave, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.
