Unbeaten featherweight prospect Javier Fernandez defeated Cesar Cantu Saturday night at the Alzafar Shrine in Hernandez’s hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

Scores were 59-55, 59-55, and 60-54 for Fernandez, who improves to 10-0, 6 knockouts.

Fernandez was on the offensive from the opening bell, working behind a consistent jab as he walked down Cantu to connect with left hooks to the body. Midway through the second round, a right hand to the head hurt Cantu, but Cantu was able to hold on to recover and fight on.

The 19-year-old Fernandez maintained the same intensity in the third round, but Cantu made adjustments that allowed him to find some success. Cantu looked to counter more during the fourth round, but had to hold at times when Fernandez was hit with two and three-punch combinations.

Fernandez continued focusing his attack to the body in the fifth round. To his credit, Cantu was game and fought on, particularly during the final round, when he went all in. Both produced solid exchanges until the final bell sounded.

The win over Fernandez was his fourth by decision in his last six bouts. In his previous fight on March 5, also in his hometown of San Antonio, Fernandez stopped Michael Haynes in the fifth round. 

Trainer Rick Nunez told BoxingScene Monday the plan is to have Fernandez immediately return to the ring, with September 10 being the likely date. 

Cantu, who resides in Weslaco, Texas, drops to 3-4-1, 1 KO. 

Lightweight Joshua Montoya of Lubbock, Texas defeated 18-year-old Christian Terrazas by unanimous decision. Scores were 39-36, 39-36, and 39-37 for Montoya, who improves to 3-3-2. 

Terrazas, who resides in Diboli, Texas, falls to 1-1, 1 KO. 

Melissa Holguin, an 18-year-old from San Antonio, improved to 2-0, 1 KO by stopping Leighanna Gonzalez at 38 seconds of the opening round. Gonzalez, who also resides in San Antonio, was making her pro debut.

In welterweight action, San Antonio’s Osiris Watson was successful in his pro debut, defeating Luis Alberto Gallegos (3-1, 3 KOs) of Wichita Falls, Texas by majority decision. One judge scored the bout 38-38 while the other two judges scored the bout 39-37 for Watson.

Junior middleweight Alexis Balderas (1-0-1, 1 KO) of San Juan, Texas, stopped Corpus Christi’s Christopher Cantu (0-3) at 29 seconds of the third round.

Promoter of the card was Triple A Promotions. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing