ANB ARENA, SAUDI ARABIA -- Vergil Ortiz Jr exercised patience and much-needed poise to fend off a methodical Israil Madrimov display, retaining his WBC junior-middleweight world title after going the distance for the second time in six months.

117-111, 115-113, 115-113 read the scorecards during a competitive clash with a worthy winner by the final bell.

More tense and tactical than an all-out war, Ortiz Jr (23-0, 21 KOs) had to bide his time and avoid being countered at will against a mobile Madrimov (10-2-1, 7 KOs), bobbing and weaving as both produced encouraging moments in the early going.

After the contrasting two interim championshp contests preceding this, a slower but measured pace felt fitting given how Ortiz's style can get him into trouble - as can Madrimov's reticence to take risks. Both were bruised around their eye through four rounds, Madrimov's left and the right of the champion, whose high guard didn't deter the 30-year-old from headhunting where possible.

Ortiz began pushing Madrimov back in the sixth, now accustomed to the challenger's herky-jerky style and finding his rhythm, referee Kieran McCann gave the older man a stern warning after a blatant shoulder barge in response to losing an exchange.

Enthused by this illegal action as a sign of frustration, Ortiz's uptick in punch output continued as Madrimov looked weary heading into the second-half of a hazy affair.

Ortiz landed a nice two-punch combination a minute into the seventh, Madrimov's overhand right counters were partially blocked but that didn't stop the former world champion's support team voicing their delight nonetheless.

Right on cue then, he did some encouraging work with scoring flurries in the eighth as Ortiz's corner bemoaned his lack of punch variety between rounds, flicking from being aggressive behind his jab to frustratingly passive.

Exactly what they asked for arrived in the ninth. Body shots, uppercuts and pressure prompting Madrimov to take a backwards step was key, as a cuffing right hand and more thudding work downstairs saw the challenger troubled in the corner, hearing the bell come to his rescue.

Madrimov pushed the pace in round ten before being cautioned for rough-housing in the pocket. McCann issued a final warning before they exchanged power shots, Vergil's vicious uppercut through the guard was on display shortly afterwards before starting to use the jab to set up his right hand. Madrimov swung wildly but narrowly missed with a few haymakers during a round he was playing catch-up in.

The eleventh was more frantic with back-and-forth exchanges, though it was increasingly evident by this stage Madrimov's attempts at pinning Ortiz in a place to unload was futile during another competitive frame.

Both landed power punches in the final stanza, Madrimov engaging in the clinch too often before catching the champion clean with an uppercut he didn't see coming just before the round's halfway mark. Rather than build on this moment of success, he smothered his work and McCann gave him a reprieve again, an additional final warning, keen not to spoil a seemingly close bout.

There was only one winner though as Madrimov absorbed more sneaky body work, his desperation exemplifying that.