Aaron Aponte was nearly dealt a loss just two fights ago when he was forced to settle for a draw.

He could not avoid that fate on Saturday, as Xavier Madrid earned a split decision win in what will go down as a sizable upset. Judge Larry Berger (78-73) had Aponte winning wide, but was overruled by judges Terry Boudreaux (76-75) and Keith Thibodeaux (76-75) who awarded Albuquerque’s Madrid with the verdict.

A fifth-round point deduction for a low blow call proved to be the difference between a majority draw and the first defeat for Aponte in their DAZN preliminary bout Saturday from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Aponte (7-1-1, 2KOs) started out strong but struggled to pace himself, an issue that has plagued his early development. Madrid continued to come forward throughout the first half of the fight and earned an edge when referee Keith Hughes ruled an Aponte body shot to have strayed too low.

The deduction provided a sense of urgency for Aponte, who hurt Madrid (5-2, 2KOs) with a right hand and later with a left hook in the sixth round. It was not enough to fend off the scrappy Madrid, who battled until the final bell to complete the upset in a fight where Aponte was as much as a -2000 betting favorite.  

Criztec Bazaldua remains perfect in his young career. Judges Larry Berger (40-36), Keith Hughes (40-36) and Keith Thibodeaux (40-36) awarded every round to the 18-year-old Los Angeles native in a four-round shutout of Elroy Fruto.

Bazaldua (2-0, 0KOs) had Fruto (1-2, 0KOs) hurt early in the fight but had to settle for his second four-round decision victory in as many starts. He easily won every round to advance in a pro journey that began in March.

Bazaldua is trained by Manny Robles and managed by Richard Moore, the same team behind iconic figure and rising junior featherweight Ramla Ali (7-0, 2KOs) who faces Julissa Alejandra Guzman (12-2-2, 6KOs later on the undercard.

Headlining the show, homegrown favorite Regis Prograis (28-1, 24KOs) attempts the first defense of his WBC junior welterweight titlist Danielito Zorrilla (17-1, 13KOs). 

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