SAN BERNARDINO - Luis Coria has been on the short end of close decisions in recent fights. He made sure to leave no doubt as to who the victor was on Saturday night. 

Coria defeated Herbert Acevedo by unanimous decision before a partisan crowd at the Club Center Events. Scores were 60-54, 59-55, and 58-56 for Coria, who improved to 14-5, 7 KOs. 

The bigger and taller Acevedo was the busier and more-effective fighter during the opening round. Coria, who resides in nearby Perris, made adjustments during the second round, moving in and out of Acevedo’s range and throwing and landing combinations behind a jab. Both fighters had their moments during the middle rounds, but Coria threw and landed more effective punches.

Acevedo made a tactical move to attack the body during the second half of the fight. The tactic worked, but Coria was able to vary his offense, connecting with his own share of hooks to the body, but also with combinations to the head. Coria outboxed Acevedo during the last two rounds, earning the victory. 

The 24-year-old had not fought since October 2021, defeating Alberto Chuc Uicab. Coria had lost his previous three fights, including a majority decision loss to Adam Lopez in June 2020, and to Robson Conceicao over four months later.

Acevedo, who resides in Oxnard, falls to 13-4, 6 KOs. Acevedo had not fought since December 2019, losing to Luis Feliciano.

In the main event, featherweight Albert Gonzalez defeated Kazakhstan’s Aidyn Yelzhanov by unanimous decision. Scores were 60-54, 60-54, and 59-55 for Gonzalez, who improved to 5-0, 2 KOs. 

Gonzalez, who also resides in Perris, finally let his hands go during the third round. Gonzalez was able utilize a shoulder roll to avoid Yelzhanov’s punches to counter with his own, particularly with counter right hands to the head. 

The 21-year-old mixed his attack well during the second half of the fight. Yelzhanov was able to sneak the occasional right hand to the head, but Gonzalez continued to connect with right hands, and mixed in left hooks and punches to the head. 

Yelzhanov falls to 6-2-1, 2 KOs.  

In a fight fought at a catchweight of 142 pounds, Oscar Acevedo of Oxnard defeated Jose Delgado by majority decision. One judge scored the bout 56-56, while the other two judges scored the bout 58-56 for Acevedo, who improved to 9-1. 

In a clash of southpaw boxer-punchers, Acevedo hurt Delgado twice during the opening round, connecting twice to the head that staggered Delgado. After recovering during the minute break, Delgado was successful in initiating exchanges, connecting with straight left hands to the head.

Both had their moments during the middle rounds, creating solid ebb-and-flow exchanges, until Acevedo staggered Delgado again with a left hand towards the end of the fourth round. Delgado was barely able to make it out of the round. 

Both fighters had their moments during the final two rounds. Towards the end of the final round, Acevedo staggered Delgado again with a combination to the head. 

Delgado, who grew up in Oxnard and now resides in Pittsburg, California, falls to 10-2-4, 4 KOs. 

In welterweight action, Leonardo Ruvalcaba of nearby Jurupa Valley defeated Colombia’s Pedro Pinillo (5-3, 5 KOs) by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Ruvalcaba, who improved to 2-0. 

Junior welterweight and amateur standout Art Barrera, Jr. of Paramount, California was successful in his pro debut, stopping Mexico’s Raymundo Rios Cardiel (4-12-3, 3 KOs) at 2:47 of the second round. 

Super middleweight Jose Rodriguez of Riverside defeated Argentina’s Pablo Jesus Rojas (4-8) by unanimous decision. Scores were 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37 for Rodriguez, who goes to 3-0, 1 KO. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing