Brian Ceballo and Maricela Cornejo Win Tough Fights in Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.-Welterweight prospect Brian Ceballo got a taste of Texas and toward the end of the fight nearly fell off the dinner table but survived on Sunday.

Brooklyn’s Ceballo (7-0, 3 KOs) started quickly against Randy Fuentes (8-8-1) of McAllen, Texas at the Avalon Theater with quick single shots and a solid jab. This continued for two rounds on the 360 Promotions card.

But Fuentes, a southpaw, had decent defensive skills and though he couldn’t find a quick remedy for the faster Ceballo (pictured on the left), he was able to fend off the constant attacks.

Little by little Fuentes timed the quick attacks by Ceballo and then in the fifth round sprung a counter attack with a pair of straight lefts that dumped the undefeated Ceballo on the floor with a thud. He got up gingerly but was able to survive the round.

“It just happened so quick,” said Ceballo. “You don’t realize it. I learned a lot.”

Ceballo knew he was ahead on the scorecards but that left cross was getting through his guard. He played it safe in the sixth as Fuentes turned into the hunter. But at the end of the final round the Texas lefty wasn’t able to land another telling blow.

Two judges scored it 57-56 and another 58-55 all for Ceballo.

Cornejo-Toughill

In the main event Maricela Cornejo won by decision over Erin Toughill in a middleweight fight that was much closer than the scorecards indicated.

Toughill pressed forward for most of the fight as Cornejo circled one way or the other while countering here and there, but despite the movement, she was hit constantly.

Both fighters are about equal height and the reach favored neither fighter. Each exchanged punches throughout the fight but neither was ever hurt by the blows.

Cornejo had her best moment when the two engaged inside toe to toe. The younger fighter was able to connect more solidly standing still and scored well in the fifth round. Then she broke off the inside attack and was immediately hit with long range blows by Toughill.

After eight rounds the judges scored it 79-73 twice and 78-74 for Cornejo. It seemed much closer than those scores to the audience and on press row.

“I think it was a lot closer than what the judges had it,” said Toughill, 41, after the fight. “I’d like a rematch with her.”

It was especially ironic that so many people criticized the match when it was first announced. If you read our advance story we predicted a competitive match as did promoter Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions.

Cornejo also expected a tough one.

“I was not going to look past her,” said Cornejo adding that she planned to circle and move before the fight. “She’s a very talented fighter.”

Other Bouts

George Navarro (4-0-1) knocked out Anthony Torres at 2:34 of the second round in a bantamweight fight. L.A.’s Navarro floored Visalia’s Torres three times before referee Raul Caiz Jr. stopped the fight. A five-punch combination mixed with body shots ended the fight.

“Shout out to my opponent for giving me an opportunity to fight in front of my hometown,” said Navarro.

Christian Robles (2-0) knocked out Joel Bermudez (0-3) at nine seconds into the second round of a super flyweight match. Robles of L.A. floored Bermudez twice with straight rights.

Alberto Felix Jr. (3-0) knocked out Cody Sessions (0-2) at 1:46 of the first round of their super bantamweight fight. The first round saw Sessions jumping out quickly with hard combination punching. But once Felix found his footing, the tide turned and Felix ended the first round with a solid right cross. The second round saw Felix dominate with combination punching and never allowed Sessions to take a breath. Referee Wayne Hedgepeth ended the fight after Felix unloaded a dozen unanswered blows.

Photo credit: Alonzo Coston

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