By Francisco Salazar

Maricela Cornejo won an eight round unanimous decision over Erin Toughill Sunday night at The Avalon in Hollywood, California.

The 41-year-old Toughill was fighting for the first time since she was knocked out in the opening round by Laura Ramsey in August of 2006. During her hiatus from the boxing ring, Toughill competed in mixed martial arts.

Toughill was the more-effective fighter during the first four rounds of the fight, pressing the fight and initiating the exchanges between the two.

Cornejo, who was fighting as a middleweight for the first time in almost three years, began letting her hands go more in round four. Cornejo mixed her attack by working behind a jab or countering Toughill with right hands to the head.

Toughill looked fatigued by the end of the sixth round. Her punch output dropped and her reflexes were not as sharp as during the first half of the fight.

Sensing she was down on the scorecards, Cornejo closed the distance between the two during the last two rounds. Toughill found a second wind in round eight, fighting as the aggressor until the bell sounded to end the round.

Scores were 79-73, 79-73, and 78-74 for Cornejo, who resides in the Los Angeles area. BoxingScene scored the bout even 76-76.

Cornejo challenged for the vacant WBC super middleweight title in her previous fight on Sept. 13, losing by majority decision to Franchon Burns Dezurn.

Toughill, who resides in Huntington Beach, California, falls to 7-4-1.

Welterweight Brian Ceballo overcame a knockdown to win a hard-fought six round majority decision.

Fuentes (8-8-1, 2 KOs) was coming off an upset victory over prospect Craig Callaghan on Dec. 14.

Ceballo, a decorated amateur, mixed his attack well until he was dropped by a left hand to the head in round five. Ceballo was not visibly hurt after getting up, fighting on, but fought more cautiously.

Sensing he was down in the fight, Fuentes was aggressive during round six.

Ceballo did fight well in spots, but chose to counter Fuentes’ aggression.

Scores were 57-56, 57-56, and 58-55 for Ceballo, who goes to 7-0, 3 KOs.

Flyweight Christian Robles (2-0, 1 KO) knocked Joel Bermudez in the second round.

Robles hurt Bermudez with an overhand right hand, dropping him moments later with another right hand to the head. Bermudez was able to beat the count and the bell sounded to end the round.

Robles, who is trained and managed by Brian Viloria, immediately went on the attack to start the second round, dropping Bermudez (0-3) again with a lead right hand to the head. Referee Wayne Hedgpeth immediately stopped the bout at nine seconds.

Two 20-year-olds notched knockout victories in separate bouts.

Bantamweight George Navarro dropped Anthony Torres (0-3) twice en route to a second round knockout victory.

The aggressive Navarro (4-0-1, 2 KOs) dropped Torres with a series of punches to the body in round two, but referee Raul Caiz, Jr. deducted a point from Navarro for hitting Torres while he was down on one knee.

Torres fought on, but was dropped with a counter left hook from Navarro. Torres beat the count, but Navarro went info the kill, landing several unanswered punches before Caiz, Jr. stopped the fight at 2:34.

In the opening bout, junior featherweight Alberto Felix (3-0, 2 KOs) stopped Cody Sessions in the second round.

After an even opening round, Felix battered Sessions during the second round, landing several combinations to the head. Felix trapped Sessions (0-2) in a corner, landing a series of punches that prompted referee Wayne Hedgpeth to stop the bout at 1:46.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing