Anthony Joshua secured the 25th win of his careerAnthony Joshua returned to winning ways with a unanimous points victory over Jermaine Franklin at London's O2 Arena.
The British heavyweight, 33, controlled the contest against the durable American but it was not the explosive early finish many expected.
Two judges scored it 117-111 and one 118-111 to Joshua.
Tempers flared after the final bell as the two fighters squared up to each other, prompting their teams to enter the ring and be separated by security.
It is Joshua's first win in more than two years, having lost consecutive bouts to Oleksandr Usyk.
"It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck-and-dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out," Joshua said.
"I respect him, he did well. I should have knocked him out but it is done. On to the next. He is here to prove himself, not roll over. I wish I could have knocked him out."
He also called out fellow Briton and WBC champion Tyson Fury, saying: "I try and provide for the fans. I know who they want. They said Tyson Fury - the ball is in his court."
Joshua has now won 25 fights, with 22 stoppages, and lost three since turning professional in 2013.
It is a second defeat for Franklin, 29, having lost to Briton Dillian Whyte in November.
Job done but not vintage 'AJ'
Joshua returned to the O2 Arena - once a fortress for the Watford fighter - after seven years. His seven previous fights at the venue ended inside the distance, but this was not vintage Joshua.
A boisterous sellout crowd, including popstar Liam Payne and journalist Louis Theroux, were in attendance, eager to see whether Joshua - still one of the biggest names in British boxing - remained a force in the division.
Away fighter Franklin - who earlier travelled on the London underground to the arena due to traffic - entered the ring first to huge jeers. Joshua followed, marching to the ring with a look of determination.
A solid opening round saw Joshua take the centre of the ring and effectively double up on the jab to pierce Franklin's guard, with quick feet to stay out of range of any advances.
A thudding straight right got Franklin's attention at the start of the second, the London crowd gasped but Franklin stuck his tongue out.
Joshua had previously knocked out every opponent he faced at the O2 ArenaThe American drew blood from Joshua's nose, who answered with a right to the body and then another stinging blow to the temple.
The Michigan fighter - who shed 23lbs since losing to Whyte - came out strong in the third. Letting his hands go with Joshua back-peddling. Franklin started to land jabs of his own, growing in confidence and showing he was not there to make up the numbers.
Franklin began to target Joshua's body more in the fourth, but the British boxer responded with a brutal right and then landed a telegraphed uppercut from range.
Joshua landed the cleaner shots as both men found success in the fifth before landing a trademark uppercut in the sixth that Franklin took well on the chin.
Boxing fans and pundits felt Joshua needed to win in style against a fringe world-level contender. Even 'AJ' himself said he needed to make a statement, but it was starting to look as if that would not be the case.
Franklin began to tire into the second half of the fight, Joshua landing a sharp hook on the inside. The two men stood their ground and exchanged glares after the bell in the seventh.
Other than a Joshua right which rocked Franklin's head back, the eighth was a scrappy round with both men holding. An overhand right from a crouched down Franklin landed flush on Joshua in the ninth.
Joshua enjoyed more success in the 10th, stunning Franklin with a terrific uppercut. He grinned and, perhaps for the first time in the fight, the former unified heavyweight champion was reminiscent of his old self.
A complacent Joshua was reminded of the danger Franklin poses, taking a couple of clean shots, but out-jabbed his opponent in the 11th but an uppercut hurt the American in the final minute of the contest before he tied Joshua up, much to the dismay of the crowd, to see out the distance.
Tempers flare post-fight
After his loss to Ukrainian Usyk in August, Joshua threw the champion's belts out of the ring and then delivered an emotional speech from inside the ring.
Once again, he allowed his frustration to get the better of him after the final bell. Joshua tapped Franklin on the back of the head, who reacted, before both corners got involved.
The brawl continued outside the ring, pushing back the barriers separating the teams from media.
"Last time I grabbed the mic, it was a bit chaotic," Joshua said afterwards. "I'm calm - I appreciate everyone coming out this evening.
"Inside the ring, it is a different energy so I apologise to those watching. I respect Jermaine, Eddie [Hearn], thank you for this opportunity."
Is Fury next?
Joshua is a two-time world champion and on the hunt for a fresh shot at a world titleFans wanted to see the return of the old Joshua. The ferocious, ruthless combination puncher who stopped his first 20 opponents inside the distance.
But the last time Joshua won in the first half of a fight was in 2016, against Eric Molina. Perhaps that is testament to the level of opponents he has faced since then.
Franklin - a fringe world level contender - gave Joshua a harder night's work than most expected. Nevertheless, the pressure was on. A defeat for Joshua would have been difficult to come back from.
Despite an underwhelming performance, Joshua is keen on a match-up with Fury.
"I would be honoured to fight for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world," Joshua said.
"If he's listening, he knows my promoter, we've had dialogue before, so let's continue this. We ain't getting any younger."
Promoter Hearn added: "AJ is going to want the biggest fights. Tonight was a step down from Oleksandr Usyk, but there was huge pressure.
"He ended the fight well, but like he said they aren't getting any younger. We would be willing to entertain those conversations to go straight into a Tyson Fury fight in the summer."
Unbeaten Fury's last outing was a trilogy bout win over Dereck Chisora in December. The Morecambe fighter will be looking for a high-profile opponent for his next fight.
Joshua-Fury is arguably the most lucrative bout for both men. In terms of appeasing boxing fans, it would go a little way in clawing back some credibility for the sport after an undisputed fight between Fury and Usyk fell through.
