Bryan Chevalier left the toughest test of his career with a win and a future wife.

A featherweight grudge match between Puerto Rico’s Chevalier and Staten Island, New York’s James ‘Crunch Time’ Wilkins proved as entertaining in the ring as was their skirmish at Thursday’s pre-fight weigh-in.

In the end, it was Chevalier who successfully claimed a ten-round unanimous decision along with a successful wedding proposal to his girlfriend. Scores were 97-92, 96-93 and 95-94 for the 5’11” Puerto Rican, who suffered a point deduction in round eight.  

Wilkins entered the fight with a chip on his shoulder after nearly coming to blows with Chevalier one day prior. An obligatory post weigh-in staredown saw Wilkins put his hand around Chevalier’s throat, met with a slap across the New Yorker’s face before the two were immediately separated.

That energy spilled into the ring on Friday as both boxers put in solid body work early in the fight. Wilkins worked his way past the 5’11” Chevalier’s long guard, forcing an inside fight and letting go with right hands and left hooks downstairs. Chevalier–fighting for the first time outside of Puerto Rico—responded in kind, hitting his stride in round three and remaining a step ahead on the strength of his long jab and superior infighting skills.

Chevalier was hit with a crucial point deduction in the opening minute of round eight, disciplined by referee Thomas Taylor for pushing down on the back of Wilkins’ head. To his credit, Chevalier went out and emphatically won the round, at one point briefly stunning Wilkins.

Action slowed down a bit in round nine, as Wilkins charged forward while fatigue appeared to set in for Chevalier. Wilkins forced Chevalier to the canvas midway through the tenth and final round, though the sequence correctly waved off as a slip. Chevalier was running on fumes in the closing seconds of the bout, though Wilkins was unable to land that game-changing home run shot to take the fight out of the judges’ hands.

Any ill will between the two were resolved by fight’s end, with both fighters embracing at center ring. It was Chevalier who enjoyed the sweet taste of victory, improving to 16-1-1 (12KOs) as he has now won his last eight starts. Wilkins falls to 9-2 (6KOs), ending a four-fight win streak.

Chevalier-Wilkins aired live on Golden Boy and DAZN social media channels preceding a four-fight DAZN telecast headlined by a light heavyweight clash between Gilberto Ramirez (41-0, 27KOs) and Sullivan Barrera (22-3, 14KOs).

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