Jonathan Gonzalez defeated Mark Anthony Barriga by unanimous decision Friday night in Florida.
He thus retains his WBO light flyweight title.
The judges handed cards of 115-113, 117-111 and 117-111 in his favor.
The Puerto Rican was back in the ring eight months after causing an upset against Elwin Soto, from whom he stole the belt in October.
The two pugilists made their power speak from the first round. Gonzalez took a blow below the belt in the third and then had to have his right eye checked by the doctor in the sixth due to swelling, but the fight was able to continue.
The action slowed in subsequent rounds, with several skirmishes, but Gonzalez regained control in the 10th as Barriga lacked precision and energy.
The 29-year-old Filipino had won his last two fights but saw his record drop to 11-2.
