Edward Jeramie Ortiz was forced to overcome a stiff challenge to preserve his unbeaten record. (photo by Ryan Hafey)

The 28-year old San Antonio-bred middleweight outlasted Atlanta’s Antonio Todd over eight hard-fought rounds, claiming a split decision win Saturday evening from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Judge Carla Caiz 77-75 for Todd, the dissenting score as Rudy Barragan and Ron Scott Stevens both scored the contest 77-75 for Ortiz in their FS1-televised affair.

Ortiz looked to put his height and reach advantages to good use in the battle of middleweight prospects. The 6’2” Ortiz worked a steady jab, though not always following up with his left hand. Todd seized the moment in such instances, shooting his own jab and landing left hands to the body while also working out of a southpaw stance.

Action remain tightly contested in round two. Todd worked his way inside Ortiz’s long reach, managing to connect with left hand shots. It came at a price, as reddening began to form around his right eye. Todd was a little greedy with his left, leaving his chin exposed for a counter right hook from Ortiz.

Todd switched to conventional stance for much of round three, to which Ortiz adapted. A steady jab found its mark for the San Antonio native, with his best moment of the frame coming in the form of a straight left as Todd was wide with a right hand upstairs.

Persistence from Todd eventually paid off in the second half of the fight. The Atlanta native managed to force an inside fight, making things uncomfortable for his taller foe. Ortiz’s infighting ability was put to the test, his offense smothered as he was forced to take a clean right hand midway through round six.

Ortiz planted his feet and drove his jab to start round seven. The weapon was followed by left hands, some which managed to get through but never discouraging Todd from continuing to throw his right hand.

Both boxers dug to the body in the eighth and final round of what appeared to be a very close fight. Ortiz’s jab was the difference in the majority of the exchanges, though Todd (7-4, 4KOs) deserved credit for his ability to slip the weapon. A clash of heads slowed the pace midway through the round, with Ortiz (11-0-2, 4KOs) taking the lead in the final minute to seal the win and preserve his unbeaten record.

The bout aired in supporting capacity to a Fox-televised welterweight title eliminator, where Las Vegas-based former two-time titlist Shawn Porter claimed a 12-round shutout over Germany’s Sebastian Formella.

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