Joahnys Argilagos remains perfect in the pro ranks.

The 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist and current unbeaten bantamweight prospect was forced to work in outpointing journeyman Ernie Marquez over four rounds Friday evening at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Judges Brian Garry, John Rupert and Rocky Young were all unanimous in scoring the bout in favor of Argilagos. Scores were announced as 40-39 across the board, although likely the product of a miscue from ring announcer J.D. Lyons.

Argilagos opened the bout circling the ring, forcing Marquez to follow him while poking with his sharp jab. Marquez continued to come forward, working his own jab and attempting to pin down his mobile foe. Argilagos stood his ground long enough to land a right hand before spending the rest of the round playing defense.

Marquez served as the aggressor for much of round two. Argilagos fought behind a tight guard, working the body when he wasn’t covering up in his best efforts to deflect Marquez’s incoming artillery. The fast-paced approach by Marquez came at a price as he was forced to fight with a mouse developing under his right eye.

Argilagos treated the wound as a bullseye in round three, continuing to shoot his jab at Marquez’s rapidly swollen eye. Marquez adjusted to the tactic, prompting Argilagos to revisit his body attack whole effortlessly dodging Marquez’s counter shots.

The fourth and final round followed the same trend. Marqyuez was game

The 39-year old Marquez falls to 10-16-2 (3KOs) with the loss, his second straight and 10th within his last 12 starts (1-10-1 over that stretch).

Argilagos advances to 6-0 (3KOs) with the win, his second since the pandemic. The 24-year old from Houston by way of Camaguey, Cuba—who also trains in the Miami area—claimed a 1st round knockout in Miami this past October.

The bout served as the opening contest of a televised tripleheader live on Don King PPV. Headlining the show, unbeaten Trevor Bryan (20-0, 14KOs) faces former WBC titlist Bermane Stiverne (25-4-1, 21KOs) for the vacant WBA “World” heavyweight title. 

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