Three months after settling for a quick win over a late replacement, Mauricio Pintor managed to prevail though on a night that didn’t quite end on his terms.

A deep cut outside the left eyelid of the local favorite resulted in a shortened affair with Puerto Rico’s John Karl Sosa.  Pintor claimed a six-round technical decision win in their Telemundo-televised welterweight battle Friday evening at Auditorio Blackberry in Mexico City, Mexico. 

Scores were 59-55 (twice) and 58-56 in favor of Pintor, who was given a stiffer test than the final cards suggested in extending his current three-fight win streak.

Sosa (14-4, 7KOs) didn’t show any fear in fighting for the first time both on Telemundo and in Mexico. The 27-year old Boricua—once a hot prospect who suffered three straight losses before rebounding with a win earlier this year—offered crisp punching throughout the contest, causing fits for Pintor who never really established a steady rhythm despite banking rounds.

Pintor began to time Sosa’s jab and long right hand, beating his foe to the punch through a calm and steady attack. Sosa was at his best when able to move around and force Pintor out of his comfortable punching range, although it was his desire to work his way inside which ultimately led to the end of the fight.

With both fighters along the ropes, Sosa looked to corner Pintor. What came instead was an inadvertent clash of heads, causing Pinto to wince in pain as he pawed at his left eye. With blood streaming down his face, the ringside physician huddled with the referee and decided that the wounded local prospect was unfit to continue.

Pintor improves to 23-3-1 with the win, his third straight overall and second in a row on the Telemundo circuit. His last outing lasted less than 4 ½ minutes, tearing throw late replacement Miguel Angel Martinez in two rounds this past July.

The second-generation boxer—whose uncle Lupe Pintor was a Hall of Fame former two-division champ—endured a far stiffer test this time around, one which should prove valuable as he looks to establish himself as a rising contender.

Sosa has now lost four of his last five fights, although his usual energetic performance will warrant future televised appearances.

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