James Moore (17-2)  beat Joseph De Los Santos (4-4-3) by unanimous decision at Plattduetsche Park Restaurant, Franklin Square, Long Island Friday night.

Moore was back in the squared circle for the first time since losing to Yuri Foreman on December 13 in Atlantic City,  and he can be happy with this rebound win against a motivated opponent who brought the fight to him.

When Moore used his height advantage and kept the fight at distance he looked comfortable. The 31-year-old might have been looking to land the big punches a little too often, but when he let his hands go his better boxing skills came to the fore.

That said his opponent, Joseph De Los Santos, a Dominican based in Puerto Rico, put him under considerable pressure and tried to put the Irishman off his game by making a brawl out of it.

De Los Santos had his moments in a competitive and, at times, rough and tumble fight, but Moore did enough over the six rounds to get the win.

Moore's jab was his best weapon, and outside a little moment in the fifth round when he got caught with an overhand right that stunned him a little, the Wicklow man scored well off the strong left hand.

When it went to the scorecards, all three judges gave Moore the decision, 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56.