Mike Perez of Cuba earned the biggest victory of his career when he took a unanimous decision over top 10-ranked Magomed Abdusalamov of Russia in the heavyweight semi-main event Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Perez won by scores of 97-92, 95-94, 97-92.

The bout was contested on the undercard of the middleweight title fight between champion Gennady Golovkin and Curtis Stevens (on HBO).

Abdusalamov (18-1), who these days hails from Hallandale, Fla., came in having knocked out all 18 of his previous opponents. He fought most of the 10 rounds with a very swollen left cheek, suggesting he may have a broken bone in there somewhere. He was cut on the left eye lid, too.

The 28-year-old Perez, who lives in Ireland, is now 20-0.