British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental belt.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.
