LAS VEGAS – Ryan Karl made Omar Juarez work Saturday for what initially looked like it would be an easy victory on the Keith Thurman-Mario Barrios undercard.

Juarez got off to a strong start, fended off the resilient Karl’s rally that began in the fourth round and won a 10-round split decision at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino's Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Judges Glenn Feldman (95-94) and Chris Migliore (96-93) scored their welterweight fight for Juarez, who had a point deducted by referee Mike Ortega for hitting Karl with his forearm in the seventh round. Judge Steve Weisfeld scored their fan-friendly action fight for Karl, 95-94.

Feldman and Migliore scored six and seven rounds, respectively, for Juarez. Weisfeld scored five rounds apiece for Juarez and Karl, but the aforementioned point deduction was the difference for Karl on his card.

The 22-year-old Juarez, of Brownsville, Texas, improved to 13-1 (5 KOs) by winning a fight FOX televised as part of a two-bout broadcast that aired before the four-fight Thurman-Barrios pay-per-view show.

The 30-year-old Karl (19-4, 12 KOs), of Milano, Texas, lost for the second time in his past three fights. Two fights ago, Barrios knocked him out in the sixth round of what had been a competitive, entertaining encounter in October 2020 at Alamodome in San Antonio.

Juarez landed back-to-back right hands early in the 10th round Saturday, but Karl came right back with a right hand that made him retreat. Karl unloaded in combination to Juarez’s head and body later in the 10th round, but the gritty Juarez rallied and landed hard shots of his own.

They then went toe-to-toe for the final 15 seconds of their bout.

Karl and Juarez were competitive during the eighth and ninth rounds, when both boxers landed their fair share of punches. As they headed toward the final round, it appeared to be close enough that the fight might’ve been close enough for Juarez or Karl to win.

Juarez landed a left to Karl’s body that he believed hurt him with just under two minutes remaining in the seventh round. With 1:24 to go in the seventh round, Ortega deducted a point from Juarez for using his forearm to hit Karl in the face.

Karl was examined by a ringside physician during that break because he bled badly from a cut above his left eye. Once the action resumed, Karl understandably fought with a sense of urgency due to that cut.

Juarez caught Karl with a flush left hook just before the seventh round concluded, but Karl took it well.

Juarez wobbled Karl with a right hand in the middle minute of the fifth round. Several seconds later, Ortega warned Juarez for hitting Karl with a left hook after Ortega called for a break.

Karl mounted a comeback after that brief break in the action, as he landed to Juarez’s head and body.

Following a rough third round for Karl, he was the more aggressive, effective fighter throughout a one-sided fourth round in which he continually caught Juarez with right hands.

Juarez beat up Karl and opened a cut beneath his left eye during the third round. He also landed a left hook just before the bell rang to end the third round that made Karl stumble backward before he went to his corner.

Juarez completely controlled the action in the first two rounds, when his speed and right hand troubled Karl.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for krikya360.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.