By Jake Donovan

Gilberto Ramirez remained unbeaten after posting a unanimous decision over Marcus Upshaw in their 10-round middleweight bout Saturday evening in Puebla, Mexico. 

Scores were 98-92, 99-91 and 99-90.

Ramirez threatened to end things early, rocking Upshaw in the opening round. It was the closest either fighter came to being in any real danger.

Upshaw made a fight of it in the later rounds, but only after falling way behind and catching an earful from a corner who refused to allow its fighter to quit trying. Ramirez adapted every time the American attempted to take the lead, always coming back with enough power shots to swing momentum back in his favor.

The win advances the 21-year old's record to 24-0 (19KO). Upshaw continues to sail in the opposite direction, falling to 14-8-2 (6KO). The Floridian southpaw is now 1-4-1 in his last six contests.

Marco Antonio Periban was given all that he could handle in eking out a controversial majority decision over Francisco Sierra in the televised co-feature.

Scores were 95-95 even, 96-94 and 97-93 for Periban in a decision that was met with mixed reactions (though mostly boos).

Sierra proved disruptive in the career of George Groves in his last fight this past July, suffering a knockout loss but managing to produce a cut over the super middleweight contender's right eye. The injury forced Groves to cancel on a planned September ring return.

Periban ran into a similarly stubborn opponent, only the unbeaten Mexican had a much more difficult go of things. A late surge in the fight helped prove to be the difference on the cards, escaping the threat of the first loss of his career. 

The win advances Periban to 19-0 (12KO). It's arguably his most notable win to date, though also the most disputed thus far in the 28-year old's four-year career.

Sierra loses for the fourth time in his past five fights as he dips to 25-7-1 (22KO). The super middleweight gatekeeper faced his fourth straight unbeaten opponent with this fight, though managing an upset of Rogelio Ruvalcaba earlier this year. Sierra also managed to snatch the "0" from Donovan George in their ESPN2-televised bout two years ago.

Both bouts aired live on Fox Deportes in the United States and on Televisa in Mexico.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter:

@JakeNDaBox