Alan Sanchez continued his career revival in front of perhaps the biggest audience of his career.

The Guadalajara-born welterweight outslugged Mexicali’s Angel Beltran to claim a well-earned unanimous decision victory. Scores were 77-75, 78-74 and 79-73 for Sanchez in the opening bout of a six-fight DAZN/ESPN+/PPV.com Pay-Per-View event Saturday from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.  

Both fighters were treated to an early arriving crowd at the sold-out venue, most on hand to see Jake Paul (7-1, 6KOs) and former MMA star Nate Diaz in the evening’s main event. Beltran did his part to make an impression as forced an aggressive pace. Sanchez was able to time the visiting Mexican with body shots by the end of the opening round.

Both were forced deal with cuts from a clash of heads but remained unbothered by the sight of their own blood. Beltran was the more active of the two, while Sanchez landed the more telling blows which he effectively set up behind a stiff jab.

Time was called at the start of round four as the ringside doctor examined Sanchez’s cut. Action resumed, after which blood flowed over Beltran’s left eyelid. Beltran continued to come forward but walked into a pair of right hands late in the round. Sanchez also landed a left hook and right hand to the body.

Both fighters landed uppercuts in round six. Sanchez got the better of the exchange and was able to land right hands to worsen Beltran’s cut. Beltran turned to southpaw for parts of round seven to protect the wound but was too cautious to slow down an oncoming Sanchez.

Beltran appeared to need a knockout headed into the eighth and final round. It was Sanchez, however, who sought to close the show. Beltran was buzzed on several occasions as Sanchez landed right hands up top and left hooks both to the chin and body. Beltran managed a counter right late in the round and stood toe-to-toe with Sanchez in the closing seconds of the bout, to the delight of the packed crowd.

The valiant effort by Beltran was well received but his eight-fight win streak came to a close as he fell to 17-2 (10KOs). Sanchez advanced to 23-5 (10KOs) with his third straight victory.  

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