UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor edged the result with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.
