“I want to unify, man. It’s time to start getting this featherweight division rolling,” said Carrington. “I really want to get ready and start fighting the best in the business. That’s whoever the champions are in the featherweight division.”

Carrington’s comments were notable because he declined to single out any of the other titleholders, leaving open the possibility of facing any of the division’s champions.

While Carrington got the victory, it was far from a dominant first defense. In the eighth round, Palacios sent him to the canvas with a right hand that Carrington immediately claimed was a rabbit punch. Referee Harvey Dock ruled it a foul rather than a knockdown after Carrington remained on the canvas, pointing to the back of his head.

Replay angles, however, appeared to show the punch landing to the side of Carrington’s head rather than behind it. The ruling gave Carrington time to recover after he looked badly shaken by the shot.

Palacios had success again in the 11th round, hurting Carrington with a body shot that forced the champion to hold until he recovered. Carrington later acknowledged how damaging body punches can be but credited his mentality for helping him fight through the round.

The performance also continued a trend from his previous outing. Carlos Castro staggered Carrington before being stopped earlier this year, while Palacios enjoyed even greater success by hurting him to both the head and body over the course of 12 rounds.

Carrington’s willingness to pursue a unification fight immediately is ambitious, but Saturday’s performance is unlikely to quiet questions about how he would fare against the other champions at 126 pounds. Before any of those matchups become reality, his first title defense may be remembered less for the victory than for the vulnerabilities it exposed.