Shinard Bunch looked like he would beat Bryan Flores impressively in the first round of their televised fight Friday night.

A sharp four-punch combination dropped Flores late in the first round, when Bunch appeared to be the sharper, stronger fighter at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, California. Flores got up, however, recovered and eventually took control of their 10-round junior welterweight bout from a fatigued Bunch.

Flores was rewarded for his comeback by judges Kermit Bayless (95-94) and Marshall Walker (97-92), who declared him the winner of their “ShoBox: The New Generation” main event. Mexico’s Flores (24-0-1, 13 KOs) won a split decision because judge Ray Danesco scored their fight for Bunch, 96-93.

Bunch landed one more punch overall according to unofficial punch stats (104-of-411 to 103-of-398). Flores connected on more power punches (76-of-245 to 51-of-142), but Bunch landed more jabs (53-of-269 to 27-of-153).

Flores was also credited with landing 35 more body blows (44-9), which slowed down Bunch, particularly in the second half of their fight.

The 23-year-old Bunch, of Trenton, New Jersey, suffered a second professional loss that worsened his record to 20-2-1 (16 KOs, 1 NC). Prior to Friday night, Bunch hadn’t been beaten since Philadelphia’s Paul Kroll (then 4-0) defeated him by unanimous decision in a six-rounder in August 2019.

Flores was the aggressor during the 10th and final round and landed the harder punches in those three minutes. An exhausted Bunch didn’t do much offensively in the last round, whereas Flores’ pressure and output should’ve won it for him.

Flores landed a left hook as Bunch tried to move away from him with just over a minute to go in the ninth round. Bunch again did more holding than punching in that ninth round.

Flores landed a right hand as Bunch backed into the ropes with just over 30 seconds remaining in the eighth round. Bunch got tangled up in the ropes after taking that punch.

A seemingly fatigued Bunch previously initiated several clinches during the eighth round.

Flores connected with a right hand that made Bunch retreat with just under 1:25 remaining in the seventh round.

An accidental clash of heads caused a brief break in the action with 1:28 to go in the seventh round. Neither fighter was cut during that collision.

An aggressive Flores pressed the action during the sixth round, when he landed a couple right hands from long range. Bunch defended himself effectively in those three minutes, but he didn’t accomplish much offensively.

Flores’ right hand landed as Bunch moved backward with just under 30 seconds to go in the fifth round. A right-left combination by Flores connected with 45 seconds on the clock in the fifth round.

Flores backed Bunch into the ropes and landed a right hand with just over 40 seconds to go in the fourth round. Flores landed a right hand with just over 1:45 to go in the fourth round.

Bunch dictated distance and boxed well in the third round as Flores came forward and tried to land hard shots to his head and body. Bunch’s right hand split Flores’ guard with about 50 seconds remaining in the third round.

Bunch boxed well during the second round, when he used his jab effectively and avoided Flores’ power attempts.

Back-to-back right-left combinations by Bunch knocked Flores to the seat of his trunks with 17 seconds on the clock in the first round. Flores, who was knocked down for the sixth time in his career, beat the count and finished the round.

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