Marlen Esparza continues to thrive in her home state.

The reigning lineal/WBA/WBC/Ring flyweight champion turned away a spirited challenge from Venezuela’s Eva Guzman, earning a ten-round decision in their DAZN-aired contest. Scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92 all landed in favor of Houston’s Esparza, who has now won six straight overall and four in a row in Texas following Saturday’s contest at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Esparza—a 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist for the U.S.—patiently boxed and stood her ground, as Guzman came forward bursting with energy in her first major title fight. It was also a massive leap in competition for the petite Venezuelan, all of 4’11 ½” and whose level of opposition was abysmal despite emerging as a mandatory challenger. What was lacking in experience was compensated for in activity, as Guzman was in constant motion as she sought openings for her right hands.

The cleaner, crisper punches were all landed by Esparza, often with her jab and also enjoying success with her straight right and body shots. Esparza outmuscled Guzman on the inside, using her sheer strength to free herself out of clinches driving back Guzman.

Esparza landed her best punch of the fight to that point in round three, connecting with an overhand right. Guzman took the shot well and remained unbothered by anything that the defending champion had to offer, even as the rounds were piling up against her on the scorecards.

Guzman picked up the pace in round four. The visiting challenger went jab for jab with Esparza, following up her stick with a digging right hand to the body. Esparza—well known for her stellar stamina—was content to ride out the brief storm and resume control to land the more telling blows.

Esparza was dialed in with her right hand in round five, sliding back whenever Guzman let her hands go to set up counter opportunities. The fighting spirit of Guzman remained intact, not always—or even often—landing but refusing to back down as she frequently initiated exchanges at close quarters.

The aggression of Guzman came at a cost in round six. Esparza sat in the pocket, leaning back ever so slightly to avoid a right hand to catch Guzman with a right of her own. A similar sequence saw Esparza connect with a counter right and left hook that briefly knocked her challenger off balance.

Esparza was encouraged to work the body of Guzman in the later rounds, though the hyper challenger didn't remain still long enough to allow a sustained attack. Esparza was content with quality over quantity, landing the heavier punches even as Guzman showed supreme confidence and a tremendous engine. 

Guzman didn't have any quit in her, letting her hands go in the tenth and final round even as she was constantly beaten to the punch. Esparza landed with right hands over the top, also catching Guzman with a heavy jab even while guarding against rapid fire body shots. 

Guzman falls to 19-2-1 (11KOs), snapping a 15-fight win streak. She came up well short in by far the biggest fight of her career but handled herself well enough to where she can expect to gain another big opportunity sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Esparza sails to 13-1-1 (1KO) with the win. The leading flyweight queen makes her third overall title defense and first as the unified and lineal champion.

The goal moving forward is to collect all of the hardware and establish herself as the most attractive option for any fighter in the lower weight classes. Included on that list is longtime bitter rival Seniesa Estrada (22-0, 9KOs), the unbeaten two-division and reigning WBA strawweight titlist and Esparza’s lone conqueror to date.

Headlining the show, local hero and rising contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18KOs) faces England’s Michael McKinson (22-0, 2KOs) in a scheduled 12-round welterweight title eliminator.

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