Junior middleweight contender Willie Nelson survived being rocked in rounds three, seven and 10th against Luciano Cuello to earn 10-round unanimous decision over the rugged Argentine veteran in the opening bout of HBO’s Boxing After Dark broadcast from Mashantucket, Conn., on Saturday.

Nelson (21-1-1, 12 KOs), who won by scores of 97-93 (twice) and 96-94, outboxed Cuello in the rounds he wasn’t hurt. However, Cuello (32-3, 16 KOs), whose only previous losses were to Saul Alvarez (TKO 6) and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (a close 10-round decision), was able to score with uppercuts and hooks whenever he was in close with the 6-foot-4 American boxer.

A full ringside report from Tim Smith will be posted later.