Joseph Parker recovered after being knocked down in the first 10 seconds to beat Derek Chisora by split decision and keep living hopes of hitting the world heavyweight title.
The Briton lowered New Zealander Parker into the Manchester Arena with a canopy to the right of the temple.
But the former world champion changed course and landed combinations as it progressed, while Chisora was tired.
It turned out to be enough to make a split decision 115-113 111-116 115-113.
Chisora, 37, felt bitter about the scoring and said, “I’m not upset anymore. It’s hard. I’m training hard. I’m putting pressure, this is the treatment I get from boxing.
“I brought it. I did more punches and worked from the inside. I won’t let them slow me down. I’m going again. I won’t let them win. They want to see me retired, but I haven’t yet.”
Chisora said he could withdraw from the fight because he had to walk to the ring before his opponent, a threat in line with the unpredictability he had served for more than 14 years as a professional.
Some have wondered why he still holds the title of pay-per-view card after 10 previous career defeats, but the tangled right that sent Parker to the canvas served as a momentary reminder of his threat.
As always, he looked like he was bulldozing his opponent under constant pressure, but Parker – eight years younger than 29 – managed to create momentum as Chisora slowly disappeared.
For Parker’s part, facing such pressure is mental taxation, but he resisted the knockout and early attack before he started coming across good combinations of his own.
In the seventh, one or two followed by a rush of three hits, he sent Chisora back to the rope and pointed out his vulnerability.
In the 10th Parker followed another one or two with an attractive short left hook and hit Chisora again in the 12th, when he closed in the 29th win from 31 outings. Only British heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte beat him.
Asked if there was a chance to win the world title for the second time, Parker said: “It’s very achievable. I have to go back to training. I can still show a lot.
“It was a very close fight. I thought he could go either way. He brought smoke.”
The former champion may be looking at bigger names, but the stars at the top of the division possess life-size advantages that will make his task even more complicated.
In contrast, Chisora must seek the next move. He showed over and over again that he could come up with something to take care of.
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BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello:“I made Parker the winner in three rounds, but I wouldn’t make a strong argument against a judge who favored Chisora. It was convincing heavyweight boxing and – coming after Taylor-Jonas – just imagine a night like that with an audience.
“Parker managed to recover so quickly from an early knockout and for me his cleaner hitting distance and midfield was crucial. His durability and endurance were also factors and, given more time with new coach Andy Lee, it should be well. better come.
“Chisora’s reputation will not suffer if she loses such a fight, and Parker Camp said it should be a rematch – not a tough sale.”
BBC Radio 5 boxing analyst Steve Bunce live: “Should this be Derek’s last fight? Can you get enough money to risk his reputation? If there’s anything from where he can make the same money or close to what he earned tonight, then yes.
“What I don’t want to see is it comes down to third place in the bill and being there as a test for someone.
“If there’s another heavyweight he can make that kind of money with, let him fight.
“I don’t want to see Derek become an ‘opponent’ – he’s better than that.”
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