By Jake Donovan

Dante Jardon ended a two fight skid, while ending Patricio Moreno's days as an unbeaten fighter after taking a 10-round decision Saturday evening in Mexico City. 

The threat of a knockout never completely surfaced in the way that most fights of Jardon usually suggest, but the free-swinging TV-friendly brawler managed an opening round knockdown. Moreno looked to put his height and reach advantages to use, but got clipped towards the end of round one for the bout's lone knockdown.

It took a few rounds for Moreno to find his groove, but the 19-year old southpaw rallied in round four to remind Jardon there was still plenty of fight left. The sequence wasn't exactly a momentum shifter but enough to keep the local slugger honest over the remainder of the headlining act. 

Final scores were 99-92, 98-92 and 97-92 in favor of Jardon, who improves to 25-5 (20KOs), picking up his first win since August '13. Moreno - who turns just 20 years old in March - suffers his first career defeat as he falls to 15-1 (11KOs). 

The 17 months between wins marked the longest winless streak of Jardon's nine-year career. The first of his two losses came in his lone title fight, suffering a 9th round stoppage at the hands of Takashi Miura on 2013 New Year's Eve in Japan. 

Seven months later came a defeat that carried a silver lining. Jardon came up well short versus unbeaten countryman Adrian Estrella, losing 11 out of 12 rounds in their regional title fight last July. There was a moral victory to be found, as he became the first to extend Estrella - who was 17-0 (17KOs) heading in - the full 12-round distance.

UNDERCARD

Not even the most corrupt level of the sport's politics can return Juan Carlos Salgado to the title picture. The former two-division champ suffered his fourth straight loss, this one in a shocking upset to Jairo "Doberman" Lopez, who claimed a well-earned split decision in their 10-round co-feature. 

Scores were not announced, but the 10 rounds of action saw Lopez in control for much of the night, as Salgado struggled to keep up while foolishly getting caught up in a war. 

Lopez has now won three straight as he improves to 17-3 (12KOs). Salgado (26-5-1, 16KOs) has not won since a unanimous decision over Jonathan Barros in an Aug. '12 title defense. A 4th round knockout to Argenis Mendez in their March '13 rematch ended his title reign, igniting what is now a four-fight losing streak and likely relegated to gatekeeper level for the remainder of his career.

Both bouts aired live on Televisa as part of the network's Sabado de Corona series. 

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of krikya360.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox