Miguel Vazquez retained his IBF lightweight title for the fourth time with an uneventful and unpopular split decision over Marvin Quintero in the opening bout of HBO’s Boxing After Dark broadcast from Verona, N.Y., on Saturday.

Vazquez (32-3, 13 knockouts), a Guadalajara native who trains in Southern California, won by scores of 118-110, and 116-112. The third judge scored the bout 115-113 for Quintero, a Tijuana-based southpaw who landed the harder punches and stepped forward throughout the bout.

However, the constant lateral the movement from 25-year-old beltholder — which bored fans in the Turning Stone Casino and those watching HBO — neutralized much of Quintero’s controlled aggression. The 25-year-old challenger had the decided edge in power but was unable to cut the ring off on his cagey and mobile opponent who timed his jab and counter punches well.

Quintero still had a strong surge in the middle rounds but at the behest of his corner Vazquez engaged more with the game challenger down the stretch and appeared to get the better of thier sporadic exchanges in the late rounds.