British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
