Kavaliauskas, Vences pick up decision wins on ESPN

On a card that was meant to have a world title fight but wound up a showcase for two rising contenders, Egidijus Kavaliauskas and Andy Vences both went the full 10 rounds, picking up decision victories on Saturday’s ESPN card from Fresno.

In the main event, Kavaliauskas (20-0, 16 KO) couldn’t put away a game Juan Carlos Abreu, but took the win on scores of 96-94, 97-93, and 97-93. It may not have been the most impressive showing of the Lithuanian’s career, but it’s a solid win over an opponent who came to win in Abreu (21-4-1, 19 KO), a Dominican fighter who has given decent tests to other prospects in the past.

Kavaliauskas, 30, may find himself in the ring with WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford soon enough, as he’s one of the few in-house contenders that Top Rank has for “Bud” to face, with most of the division’s top names with Al Haymon and the PBC brand.

Super featherweight Vences improved to 21-0-1 (12 KO) with a rather easy win over Frank De Alba (22-4-2, 9 KO). Vences won on scores of 98-92, 99-91, and 99-91.