Galal Yafai has been scheduled for ten-round bouts for as long as he has been a pro.

He needed all of them to barely secure his latest victory.

The 2020 Olympic Gold medalist for Great Britain and current flyweight prospect experienced his deepest fight while also going to the scorecards for the first time in a split decision win over Mexico’s Gohan Rodriguez. Yafai won by scores of 96-94 and 96-95, overruling a 96-95 card in favor of the determined Rodriguez in their ten-round flyweight contest Saturday on DAZN from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Yafai fought true to form—patiently and behind a tight guard. Rodriguez spent the early rounds coming forward, trying to penetrate Yafai’s defense but with minimal success.

Rodriguez was forced to fight in reverse more often than he expected in round three. Yafai was more pronounced in his offensive attack, fighting at a measured pace but letting his hands go with greater regularity.

Yafai continued to walk down Rodriguez, picking off right hands and coming back with left hand shots in round four. The 29-year-old southpaw drove Rodriguez to the ropes, snapping back his head with a straight left and also connecting to the body.

Much of round five was spent at close quarters. Rodriguez tried to get an early jump on Yafai, though once again resulting in the unbeaten Brit taking the lead and keeping the fight at his desired distance and pace. The final minute of the round was spent with Yafai taking the lead while embracing his deepest pro fight to date.

Yafai continued to bully his way inside throughout the second half of the fight, but never threatening to end the fight. Rodriguez remained within range to absorb the incoming but also close enough to smother Yafai’s power punches and minimize their impact.

Rodriguez continued to make things uncomfortable for the blue-chip prospect in round nine, working his way inside. Both fighters let their hands go at close quarters, with Yafai getting the better of the exchanges but also forced to fend off left hooks and right hands from his determined Mexico foe.

The pattern carried over into the final round. Rodriguez ripped a left hook to the body while clinching to nullify Yafai’s attack. Yafai was still landing the cleaner punches whenever their hands were free, which wasn’t often as Rodriguez was throw a shot and then tie up at close quarters.

Yafai improved to 3-0 (2KO), going the distance and ten rounds for the first time as a pro. Rodriguez snapped an eleven-fight unbeaten streak in falling to 12-2-1 (1KO).

Headlining the show, WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol (20-0, 11KOs) defends against mandatory challenger and former WBO super middleweight titlist Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (44-0, 30KOs).

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