Two-division world champion Oscar Valdez earned his first win in 18 months and it was far from a straightforward assignment, though proved a triumphant outing for the 34-year-old in his Nogales, Sonora hometown of Mexico.

San Antonio native Richard Medina embraced his role as spoiler and on another night, would've been credited with more for his efforts. Instead, the 24-year-old would've known he needed something special to prevail on away soil.

97-93, 100-90 and 98-92 were the scores read out after ten rounds and ESPN Deportes commentators couldn't mask their discontent at the perceived one-sided nature of what was, truthfully, a competitive clash between men a decade apart in age.

Valdez, half an inch shorter than Medina (16-4, 9 KOs), whipped hooks at short-range in the early going while Medina set about applying measured pressure as the pair exchanged jabs.

Two rounds later, you could sense the crowd growing restless after a break was called as Medina's mouthguard fell out. His attempts to stifle and spoil the fight rhythm were far from subtle and alongside persistently holding up close, the referee wasn't assertive enough to deter the seven-year pro's tactics.

He tagged Valdez (33-3, 24 KOs) upon occasion but in the opening nine minutes, not regularly enough to win rounds with single shots alone.

Just as you wondered aloud whether he'd be busier, he connected on the round's best work in a frantic fourth before Valdez benefited from an inadvertent break of his own after his gumshield dropped to the canvas near his corner.

Medina's glove taping was loose and as expected, the fans greeted another frustrating pause with whistles as Valdez finished the stanza stronger to leave a lasting impression on ringside judges always likely to favour his eyecatching work.

That said, you can't help wondering how wise this method would be against better opposition. Sure, it was his first outing in nine months after a career-first knockout defeat, but he looked a step slow in places and was being hit clean too often for comfort.

Contrast that with, say, IBF world champion Eduardo Nunez - seven years his junior - who was involved in a memorable firefight with Christopher Diaz less than an hour earlier and you wonder whether Valdez would be able to withstand such punishment.

Nonetheless, the pair exchanged furious haymakers with just over a minute left in the fifth as the crowd stirred in anticipation of a more conclusive second-half from their hometown hero.

Medina wobbled him in the sixth though, as both enjoyed rousing moments and that back-and-forth tempo was evidenced by ESPN Deportes' even scorecard - 57-57 through 18 minutes.

It remained up for grabs with four rounds left. Valdez worked downstairs to open up the head, but was unable to make a deterring dent in Medina who stood too tall at close-range.

Emboldened by periods of success against a former champion who reigned supreme while he was still a teenager, the gamely visitor was countered with uppercuts and hooks.

Unsurprisingly, the younger man's corner were audibly imploring him to intensify the output and keep Valdez uncomfortable with two rounds left - but that was easier said than done.

96-94 was the broadcaster's final scorecard, adjudging Valdez did enough to sweep the final three rounds, but this was too close to call and the jury remains out on whether he can truly hang with clinical punchers at an elite level.

A criticism often levelled at Valdez is his need to be smarter than often trading in the pocket, knowing when to jab and move, when to exit and stay defensively sound. He couldn't help himself at times here, understandably so, though there's work to be done.

They were never going to let him lose a decision at home, but don't be fooled: there's work to be done and recently reunited coach Manny Robles will be the first to stress as much.