The lopsided scorecards from Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan only told half the story.

Brahim Ait Aadi had it widest at 118-109, while Robert Verwijs (116-111) and Pablo Gonzalez (114-113) saw it closer in a fight that felt as competitive as the hometown hero was willing to allow.

"I wanted the finish, but he's really insanely solid. We were ready for anything that could happen, honestly bring me anyone. Josh Kelly, Sebastian Fundora, anyone. I'm ready to take my spot again, I'm going to smash them all."

Samake (20-1, 11 KOs) doesn't do things half-heartedly. Ever the showman, his ring walk featured two of the biggest rising stars in Parisian rap—much like he'd argue he is in boxing.

The thrill in watching him is that for all his explosiveness and the unpredictable nature of his fast combinations, he leaves himself defensively vulnerable to counters. He often neglects his jab and expends energy in frenetic bursts.

It’s how Ermal Hadribeaj was able to absorb the 23-year-old's biggest haymakers and box-and-move his way to a 12-round decision in May—and the same could be said against Uisma Lima here.

The 4,000-strong crowd helped turn the indoor sports venue into a cauldron of noise, expecting their local star to deliver a highlight-reel finish. Lima wobbled several times with his back frequently against the ropes, yet he was unbothered and kept walking toward the fire to produce an admirable display as the away fighter.

13 months after being outclassed to the tune of two knockdowns and a first-round stoppage defeat by Jaron Ennis, the 33-year-old Angolan southpaw was more disciplined here in getting off to a good start. So much so that observers noted biased commentary favoring Samake and his sculpt-like physique rather than the visitor's work.

Lima was conceivably ahead by the halfway stage, Samake guilty of sustained periods without much activity and failing to control center ring with any conviction. Yet after a better ninth where he landed stinging shots at close-range, the tenth saw Lima floored without warning in the first half-minute.

It looked like a throwaway shot on first viewing, a cuffing left hook that had the underdog needing to gather his bearings as referee Jon Llona Fernandez counted. He didn't dare to complain, but replays showed it was more tangle than technique. If not, Samake would sense blood in the water and unload his reserves to force a stoppage.

They exchanged uppercuts and Samake was noticeably slow to exit, absorbing clean punches he didn't need in the process. Was he playing possum to bait Lima into a back-and-forth? Connecting on a stiff left hook and fast one-two combinations suggested so, though both threw wide hooks wildly and missed as time ticked by.

Samake didn't stop throwing, Lima did well to navigate the more dangerous moments well and they touched heads at the final bell, no doubt surprised they went the distance.