Australia’s Justis Huni started the process of moving on from the most difficult period of his career when he earned a majority decision over Frazer Clarke.

At London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov he fought to scores of 95-95, 96-94 and 96-94 in his first contest since his first defeat.

As with England’s Clarke, it was the WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley who dramatically ended Huni’s undefeated record. He then endured the tragic death to a heart attack of his trainer Keri Fiu, contributing to it taking 10 months for him to return to the ring.

Clarke, like Huni – working for the first time under Josh Arnold – was entering his first fight under his new trainer, Joe Gallagher. His unexpected defeat in his past fight by Jeamie Tshikeva ultimately meant that, far more so than Huni, his career was under threat.

Aged 34 he was 10lbs lighter than he was for November’s date with Tshikeva. His punch resistance and decline had since been widely questioned, but even in defeat, against a proven, youthful opponent – Huni is 27 – his improved conditioning complemented an improved performance and proof that he can continue to rebuild.

The jeopardy involved in the picture of Clarke’s career meant that accepting a fight with an opponent of Huni’s calibre represented a considerable risk.

Throughout the opening three rounds Huni’s abilities and edge in speed repeatedly tested Clarke, and allowed him to regularly succeed with his favoured left hand.

It was in the second when Huni landed with a left to the body and Clarke fell short with a jab. Huni then landed a further left to the body before Clarke fell short with a left and then Huni doubled up again with his left hand.

Clarke, clearly, was tempted to load up on his one-time sparring partner and to test the punch resistance that Wardley had conquered. He also then started to succeed to the body, in an attempt to slow Huni down.

A left uppercut on the inside from Huni then followed, as did the Australian jabbing with more consistency. There, similarly, followed a left to the body before he narrowly moved out of range.

In the fourth when they traded at close range an uppercut from Clarke snapped Huni’s head back. A right-left combination then hurt and wobbled Huni. Clarke then followed up with a straight right hand as Huni tucked up.

The sharper, leaner Clarke – largely fighting with a consistent work-rate – then had his most successful period of the fight until, after a right uppercut on the inside in the seventh, Huni’s sense of momentum was rebuilt.

Left hands to head and body followed in the eighth from Huni. Clarke, despite having taken punishment to the body, retained a consistent a form. They exchanged right hands, and this time Clarke’s head snapped back. A left uppercut and left hook followed from Huni, but Clarke again impressively stood firm.

An overhand right in the ninth from Huni, followed by a left hook and a right uppercut and a leaping right hand in the 10th contributed to him closing out victory.

He and his team will recognise that he is ready to return to world level. Clarke and his will also know that he can continue to improve.