By Keith Idec

Michel Rivera picked apart Rene Tellez-Giron for much of their eight-round lightweight fight Friday night.

The Dominican Republic’s Rivera used his height, reach and distance to easily out-box Mexico’s Tellez-Giron and won an eight-round unanimous decision at Winnavegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa. Judges Robert Hoyle (78-73), Bob LaFratte (78-73) and Russell Mora (79-72) each scored Rivera a wide winner in the second bout Showtime aired as part of a “ShoBox: The New Generation” tripleheader.

The 21-year-old Rivera remained unbeaten (16-0, 10 KOs). The 20-year-old Tellez-Giron lost for the first time as a pro (13-1, 7 KOs).

Rivera punctuated his convincing victory by dropping Tellez-Giron late in the final round.

Tellez-Giron waved Rivera forward when Rivera blasted him with a left hook late in the eighth round. Rivera happily obliged by drilling Tellez-Giron with a right hand that scored a knockdown.

Tellez-Giron’s right glove touched the canvas with 26 seconds to go in the fight. That just widened Rivera’s already large lead.

Rivera and Tellez-Giron traded hard shots with just over two minutes remaining in the fight.

Tellez-Giron landed a few left hooks early in the seventh round, perhaps his most successful three minutes of the fight. Referee Adam Pollack warned both boxers for low blows late in the seventh round.

Tellez-Giron connected with a flush left hook just prior to the end of the sixth round.

Rivera landed a crisp combination just before the halfway point of the fifth round. He continued to maintain his distance during those three minutes and picked apart Tellez-Giron.

Rivera and Tellez-Giron traded left hooks with about a minute to go in the fourth round. Rivera caught Tellez-Giron with two left hooks late in the fourth round, too.

With Tellez-Giron backed against the ropes, Rivera unloaded a seven-punch combination to his opponent’s head and body early in the third round. Rivera landed several right hands during the final minute of the third round as well.

Tellez-Giron missed with several wide, wild shots during the second round. He caught Rivera with two left hooks in the final minute of that round, though Rivera landed a flush left hook of his own late in the second.

Rivera landed a solid, straight right hand just before the first round ended.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.