British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing 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 tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Match
His career development has slowed in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the continental belt.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
