Diego Torres entered uncharted territory and into an all-action slugfest.

The unbeaten junior welterweight prospect was forced to go the distance for the first time as a pro, barely outlasting countryman Jonathan Escobedo in taking a ten-round, unanimous decision. Scores of 98-91, 97-92 and 97-92 landed in favor of Torres, who fended off a strong second half surge to emerge victorious in a scrappy affair between Zapopan, Mexico-based boxers Saturday evening at Plaza Monumental in Tijuana, Mexico.

Torres (14-0, 13KOs) jumped out to a strong start, dominating the first half of the fight and leaving Escobedo with a cut over his left eye and a rapidly swelling right eye. The fight took a dramatic momentum shift after Escobedo was examined by the ringside physician near the end of round five, with the scrappy 20-year-old coming out swinging for the rest of the round.

Drama was averted at the start of round six, when Torres hit the deck moments after catching a clean jab to the chin. The shot came seconds before Torres slipped in a lake of water in Escobedo’s corner, accurately ruled a slip.

It didn’t deter Escobedo from making things as uncomfortable for his unbeaten foe. The bell to start round seven marked the first time Torres had been taken that far in any fight, managing to use his height and range to control the distance but suddenly no longer enjoying a power advantage.

Escobedo (8-3-1, 2KOs)—who joined forces with Jose ‘Chepo’ Reynoso following his previous loss three fights ago—was once again examined by the referee in round eight, a frame where he had Torres gasping for air courtesy of digging body shots.

Torres was deducted a point in round nine after losing his mouthpiece for the third time in the fight. The 24-year-old spent most of the rest of the round playing keep away while collecting his breath. He was also left with a bloodied mouth and a developing mouse under his left eye but fought through the pain to close strong and take a well-earned decision.

Rafael Espinoza didn’t waste any time in racking up his latest win. The 6’1” featherweight prospect from Guadalajara, Mexico made quick work of overmatched foe Alie Laurel, scoring two knockdowns en route to a first-round knockout. Espinoza sent Laurel to the canvas mere seconds into the fight, with a following up knockdown ending the fight at 1:35 of round one.  

Laurel’s only value heading into the fight was the fact that he’d never been stopped through more than 11 years as a pro. The 30-year-old Filipino southpaw can no longer boast that claim, as a grazing left hand sent him to the canvas within the first 30 seconds of the fight, which was his first in North America.

Espinoza remained on the attack, making proper use of his seven-inch height advantage in getting plenty of leverage on his punches. Laurel (18-7-1, 11KOs) had nothing to offer in return and seemingly resigned to defeat after catching a counter left hook to the temple by Espinoza (18-0, 15KOs), who has now stopped 10 of his last 11 opponents.

Both fights appeared as part of a four-fight DAZN telecast headlined by former WBO junior middleweight titlist Jaime Munguia (38-0, 30KOs) versus D’Mitrius Ballard (21-0-1, 13KOs) in a scheduled 12-round battle of unbeaten middleweights. 

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox