By Francisco Salazar

Fringe junior middleweight contender Greg Vendetti won a hard-fought unanimous decision over Alan Zavala Friday night at Melrose Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts.

The fight was Vendetti’s first since his second round knockout loss to contender Michel Soro on Dec. 8. Vendetti had won his previous 16 bouts.

Zavala was a late-replacement for Manny Woods, who withdrew from the fight earlier this week due to coming down with the flu.

The 25-year-old Zavala, who had a size and reach advantage, came to fight, choosing to stay in the pocket and trade with Vendetti. As the continued into the second half of the fight, Vendetti landed the more-effective punches, as Zavala’s punch output dropped.

Vendetti won the final three rounds convincingly, but chose to outbox Zavala as opposed to attempt to go for the knockout.

Scores were 97-93, 98-92, and 99-91 for Vendetti, who improves to 21-3, 12 knockouts. Vendetti resides in nearby Stoneham.

“It was what it was,” said Vendetti after the fight. “(Zavala) was a high-caliber guy that came to win. I don’t want to fight potatoes. I don’t get better against those guys. It doesn’t do anything for me.”

Zavala, who resides in Tijuana, Mexico, drops to 15-4, 13 KOs. Zavala has now lost his last two fights.

In the co-feature, fringe lightweight contender Ryan Kielczweski defeated former bantamweight contender Nick Otieno by unanimous decision over eight rounds.

Kielczweski (30-4, 11 KOs), who lost by decision in his last bout to Tommy Coyle on Oct. 20, landed the more-telling blows throughout the fight. Scores were 79-72, 79-73, and 80-72 for Kielczweski.

The 45-year-old Otieno (31-16, 13 KOs), who resides in Nairobi, Kenya, has now lost his last five bouts.

Welterweight Mike O’Han was taken the distance by veteran Shakha Moore (12-24-2 1 NC, 2 KOs), winning by majority decision over six rounds.

One judge scored the bout 57-57, while the other two judge scored the bout 59-55 and 58-56 for O’Han, who improves to 9-0, 5 KOs.

Junior lightweight Luis Arcon (6-0, 6 KOs), who is originally from Venezuela and now resides in Coachella, California, stopped Zack Ramsey (8-7, 4 KOs) at 1:37 of the second round.

Murphys Boxing promoted the card.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing