Ramon Cardenas had a far more difficult time than was the case in his previous hometown headliner.

The Ring's No. 9 junior featherweight contender was forced to climb off the canvas to outpoint previously unbeaten Bryan Acosta. Scores were 95-94, 95-94 and 97-92 for Cardenas in their ProBox TV main event Saturday evening from Boeing Center at Tech Port in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

Cardenas' previous fight at home was a second-round knockout of unbeaten Rafael Pedroza in Sept. 2023 at this very location. Saturday's main event was a far more daunting task, as Mexico's Acosta proved he had the mettle and power to stick around for the long haul.

Acosta began to chip away at Cardenas' lead in the third after Cardenas thoroughly outfought the visiting contender. Several left and right hands landed for the switch hitter, who constantly changed stances throughout the fight. Cardenas was still in control but also sent a reminder that he was in for a real fight.

That much became evident in the fourth, when Acosta outlanded Cardenas for the first time in the fight. Both fighters connected with power shots upstairs but Acosta's eye-catching right hands were enough to seemingly win the round.

Cardenas absorbed the advice of renowned cornerman Joel Diaz to tighten up his defense and not allow Acosta to gain confidence. It held for the next several rounds, as Cardenas worked his way inside and consistently found a home for his left hook.

A massive momentum shift came early in the seventh round. Acosta landed a sweeping left hook of his produce the bout's lone knockdown. Cardenas made it to his feet but struggled to find his legs for most of the rest of the round.

Acosta continued to land power shots in the round and throughout the eighth but was unable to close the show. Cardenas survived the gut check and regained control in the ninth. Acosta continued to land right hands but left himself open for Cardenas' heavy left hook.

Acosta connected with an overhand left at the start of the tenth and final round but Cardenas responded with a thudding right. Acosta responded with a chopping right hand shot upstairs. Action moved to center ring, where Cardenas gained the upper hand with left hooks and sweeping rights.

Both fighters rightly let their hands go throughout the tenth round and all the way until the final bell. Cardenas immediately embraced Acosta as the two soaked in the cheers from the intimate but rabid crowd.

Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) was credited with landing 144-of-421 total punches (34.2 percent), including 105-of-247 power punches (42.5 percent) according to Compubox. The 29-year-old contender extended his current 14-fight win streak with the hard-fought victory.

Acosta (20-1, 8 KOs) landed 139-of-554 total punches (25.1 percent) in his first career defeat, though in a performance that warranted another network or streamed appearance sooner than later.