British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and brave, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
