Aram Avagyan appeared well on his way to getting knocked out early in his fight against Dagoberto Aguero on Friday night.

The resilient Armenian boxer survived a knockdown apiece in the first and second rounds, though, came back to out-land a fatigued Aguero and won their eight-round featherweight fight by majority decision. Judges Eli Staples (77-74) and Tim Taggart (76-74) scored their fight for Avagyan, and judge Mike Fitzgerald had it even (75-75).

Avagyan, a Moscow resident, remained unbeaten (10-0-1, 4 KOs) in the first of four fights Showtime televised as part of its “ShoBox: The New Generation” series. The Dominican Republic’s Augero lost for the first time as a pro (16-1, 10 KOs).

Fans weren’t allowed to attend the card Friday night as a precaution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Aguero’s right hand staggered Avagyan at almost exactly the midway mark of the eighth round. Avagyan recovered and landed some

About 40 seconds into the seventh round, referee Gary Ritter warned Aguero that he would deduct a point from him if he continued to hold. Avagyan nailed Aguero with a short, right hand that caused Aguero to go down to one knee with 10 seconds remaining in the seventh round.

Aguero held on to Avagyan as he went down. Ritter, whose view was partially blocked, didn’t count that as a knockdown.

Augero landed two hard, right hands just after the midway mark of the sixth round. Similar punches dropped Avagyan in the first and second rounds, but Aguero didn’t have the same snap on his punches by that point in the fight.

Aguero appeared tired by the fifth round. He tried fighting from a southpaw stance, held more than he threw punches and couldn’t keep Avagyan from pressing the action.

Despite suffering knockdowns in each of the first two rounds, Avagyan had a strong fourth round. He was more active and landed harder shots in those three minutes, when he continually moved Aguero backward.

Aguero drilled Avagyan with a short right hand in an exchange that dropped Avagyan with 1:27 to go in the second round. Avagyan reached his feet by the time Ritter’s count reached six and withstood the rest of the punches Aguero landed in that second round.

An overhand right by Aguero hurt Avagyan in the final minute of the opening round. Avagyan tried to remain on his feet by grabbing Aguero behind his neck, but he went to the canvas anyway.

Avagyan got to his feet and kept Aguero from hurting him again before the first round ended.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.