Angel Vazquez overcame a point deduction and awkward clash of styles to preserve his unbeaten record.

The 22-year-old prospect from San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico edged ‘Slick’ Nick Sullivan via unanimous decision over six rounds. Judges Raul Caiz Sr. (57-55), Ray Corona (57-55) and Fernando Villareal (57-55) all scored the bout in favor of Vazquez, who lost one point in round five but who made up the difference with a sixth-round knockdown to prevail in their DAZN-aired preliminary bout Saturday evening at Commerce Casino & Hotel in Commerce, California.

The battle of unbeaten lightweights tested the patience of the fight-hungry crowd, as well as referee Sharon Sands who was forced to intervene during several clinches.

Sullivan—whose ring moniker is ‘Slick Nick’—showed a rare moment of pop, getting the better of an exchange that saw both boxers launch left hooks in round two. Vazquez was caught off guard by the blow, barely keeping his balance as he was able to avoid having his gloves touch the canvas.

The sequence did not motivate Sullivan to let his hands go, instead sticking with his jab as he struggled to keep Vazquez at bay. Vazquez constantly worked his way inside, as Sullivan met him with combinations before frequently tying up the Mexican boxer.

Vazquez was disciplined in round five. Sullivan tied up on the inside, at which point Vazquez attempted to free himself. He instead pushed down on the back of Sullivan’s head, shoving him to the canvas and below the bottom rope at which point the judges were instructed to deduct a point.

A reversal of fortune came in the sixth and final round. Vazquez was credited with a knockdown when a left hook drove back Sullivan and caused him to wrap his arms atop the top rope. Sands ruled that the ropes broke the fall as she issued a count. Sullivan (6-1, 1KO) briefly protested the sequence, understandably upset as the 10-8 round provided the margin of victory for Vazquez (12-0, 6KOs) on all three scorecards.

Headlining the show, Guadalajara’s Raul Curiel (11-0, 9KOs) faces fringe welterweight contender Brad Solomon (29-5, 9KOs) of Douglasville, Georgia in a scheduled ten-round bout.

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