Billy Joe Saunders beat Artur Akavov by a unanimous decision in the first defence of his WBO middleweight world title.
The judges' scorecards had it 116-113, 116-112, 115-113 in favour of Saunders, who was far from convincing against the Brooklyn-based Russian fighter.
Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) was making his first title defence against challenger Akavov (16-1, 7 KOs) at Paisley's Lagoon Leisure Centre after a frustrating 11 months of inactivity.
The first round was a quiet and cagey affair but Akavov came forward more in the second and started to ask some questions of the champion.
The Russian continued to attack and landed a few combinations in the third and fourth rounds to put Saunders firmly on the back foot.
Saunders tried to use his jab more as the fight progressed but Akavov had the initiative and appeared to be in control against a jaded-looking opponent.
Only in the final stages of the eighth round did Saunders land a telling blow before connecting with a body shot in the ninth.
Saunders did not have that round all his own way, however, with Akavov responding with a firm left as the tempo increased in the fight's final stages.
Neither fighter could land a knockout blow and so it went to the judges, who gave the fight to Saunders.
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