In a cross roads bout between former junior welterweight title challengers, Demetrius Hopkins boxed his way to a comfortable unanimous decision over Mike Arnaoutis in a 10-round welterweight main event of an ESPN2-televised show from Ontario, Calif., on Friday.

The uneventful bout was the second victory for Hopkins (20-1-1, 11 knockouts), who won by scores of 100-90 and 99-91 (twice), since his split-decision loss to then-junior welterweight beltholder Kendall Holt in December of 2008. It was also the second welterweight bout for the nephew of former middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins.

The Philadelphia native's careful boxing style will not make him an attraction in the 147-pound division, but his skill and technique could make him a welterweight player.

Hopkins' ring generalship was on display against Arnaoutis (22-6-1, 10 KOs), who had a difficult time getting into any kind of rhythm against his taller, rangier, sharper antagonist.

Hopkins, the more accurate puncher throughout the 10 rounds, controlled the distance and tempo of the fight with his well-timed jab and superior footwork.

Arnaoutis, an Atlantic City-based southpaw from Greece, has now lost four of his last five bouts.

In the co-featured bout of the Friday Night Fights broadcast, undefeated lightweight prospect Francisco Contreras out-boxed Eric Cruz to an eight-round unanimous decision.

Contreras (15-0, 13 KOs), a New Jersey-based former amateur standout from the Dominican Republic, is known for his power but he elected to stick and move against Cruz (7-4-3, 7 KOs), a stoic stalker with heavy hands.

Contreras, who won by scores of 80-72 (twice) and 78-74, rocked Cruz in the fourth round but was stunned by a right hand himself in the fifth.

Cruz, of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, was coming off an eight-round split-decision loss to David Rodela last month.