LAS VEGAS – Omar Juarez landed more than enough punches above Austin Dulay’s belt Saturday night to overcome three point deductions for low blows and won their 10-round fight by unanimous decision.

Juarez, a junior welterweight from Brownsville, Texas, edged Dulay on the scorecards of Eric Cheek (96-91), Max De Luca (96-91) and Patricia Morse Jarman (94-93) in a bout Showtime streamed on its YouTube channel from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan. Juarez had to abandon his body attack during the second half of their bout because referee Mike Ortega deducted two points from him for low blows in the second round and another point for a low blow in the fourth round, which left him on the verge of disqualification.

The 23-year-old Juarez (14-1, 5 KOs) has won three straight bouts since Ali Rivera upset him by 10-round majority decision in June 2021 at The Armory in Minneapolis. Nashville’s Dulay (15-3, 11 KOs, 1 NC) is 2-3 in his past five fights.

The left-handed Dulay stood and traded with Juarez during a competitive 10th round, when Dulay’s straight left landed several times. Dulay needed a knockout to win, though, because Juarez was effective enough even after the point deductions to build a comfortable lead on two of the scorecards.

Juarez continued to press the action in the eighth and ninth rounds, when he landed several flush right hands and

A left-right combination by Dulay landed in the seventh round, but it didn’t prevent Juarez from coming forward. Juarez blasted Dulay with a right hand when Dulay was backed against the ropes toward the end of the seventh round.

An aggressive Juarez landed a barrage of power punches toward the end of the sixth round. Dulay slipped enough of Juarez’s attempts, however, to survive his opponent’s onslaught.

Juarez landed a right hand that backed Dulay into the ropes early in the fifth round. He drilled Dulay with another right hand to staggered him later in the fifth round.

After having two points deducted for low blows in the second round, Juarez landed another left hand below Dulay’s belt just before the end of the fourth round. Ortega took yet another point from Juarez and seemed to inform Juarez’s handlers before the fifth round that he was on the verge of being disqualified.

Juarez landed three low blows during the second round. The second and third fouls caused Ortega to deduct a point apiece from Juarez.

The first of those low blows was a left that was clearly low and made Dulay bend over. The second shot below his belt was also a left, which sent Dulay to his gloves and knees with 21 seconds remaining in the second round.

The third foul, a left as well, left Dulay flat on his back.

A right to the body by Juarez backed Dulay into the ropes 35 seconds into the second round. Juarez followed up with two lefts to Dulay’s body.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.