Former world heavyweight champion Oliver McCall earned a split-decision win against Puerto Rico's Fres Oquendo on Tuesday night.
The 45-year-old McCall pressed the action for most of the 12-round bout at the Hard Rock Live Arena. Oquendo landed sporadic left jabs over the final three rounds while avoiding direct exchanges with McCall, who connected with rights to the head.
Two judges scored the bout 116-112 and 115-113 for McCall, while the third judge had Oquendo winning, 115-113. There were no knockdowns.
After the result was announced, a brief skirmish broke out in the ring between a member of Oquendo's team and a representative of the show's promotional company. Security personnel separated the two men.
McCall, who enjoyed a one-fight reign as heavyweight champion after knocking out Lennox Lewis in 1994, was effective when connecting at short range. Oquendo landed short combinations to the head but McCall walked through Oquendo's punches while trying to keep the bout at close range.
Unable to mount much of an attack early on, McCall finally found his stride in the sixth. McCall (55-10) connected with effective lefts to the body and rights to the head.
Oquendo (32-7) scored early with left-right combinations to the head. Although McCall often stalked Oquendo, he could not land telling blows to turn the fight in his favor until midway through the bout.
