BOXING: QUINONEZ TAKES A LOPSIDED DECISION.

Byline: Nevin Barich  Staff Writer

BURBANK - Fringe lightweight contender Steve Quinonez is hoping to get his career back on track. On Thursday night, he took a step in the right direction.

Quinonez defeated Mexico's Alex Ugalde by a 10-round unanimous decision before a capacity crowd of about 2,000 at the Hilton Burbank Convention Center.

Quinonez, of Cathedral City, won by scores of 99-91, 99-91 and 98-92. The Daily News also had it 99-91 for Quinonez.

Although there were no knockdowns, Quinonez (27-6-1, 11 knockouts) controlled the fight by moving in and out effectively and landing sharp punches inside of Ugalde's (10-7) lunging blows.

Quinonez had won three of his last four fights heading into Thursday. However, the one loss in that stretch was a first-round knockout against top-10 contender Mickey Ward in May of last year. Ward, who stopped Quinonez with a body shot, last weekend won a 10-round majority decision over former junior lightweight champion Arturo Gatti.

Prior to the Ward fight, Quinonez had built considerable momentum. He had won five of his previous seven bouts and his two losses were against tough opponents. In back-to-back fights, Quinonez dropped a 10-round decision to former WBC lightweight titleholder Jose Luis Castillo and lost a 12-round split decision to Efran Hinojosa, who holds victories over former top-10 contender Ivan Robinson and former world-title challenger Lamar Murphy.

In other bouts Thursday: Carlos Hernandez of San Fernando had a successful pro debut with a unanimous decision over John Allen of Bakersfield (0-3) in a four-round super featherweight bout. Hernandez, who won every round on all the judges' scorecards, controlled the action with hooks to the head and body, constantly pinning Allen against the ropes.

Hernandez had a chance for a knockout in the third round, when a right hook to the body buckled Allen's knees and made him stumble into the ropes. Although a six-punch combination followed, Hernandez couldn't put his opponent on the canvas.

In a cruiserweight bout, Gerry Graham of Long Beach (1-1, 1 KO) dominated Turay McNeal of Los Angeles (1-2) before the referee stopped the fight midway through the first round. McNeal started as the aggressor, but it was Graham who was the finisher. Graham scored two knockdowns with straight right hands and later pinned McNeal on the ropes, landing three consecutive overhand rights before the fight was stopped.

``Brawling is my style and I welcomed the exchanges,'' Graham said. ``Anyone who wants to go toe to toe with me is going to pay.''

In a four-round junior welterweight contest, William Adamyan of Glendale improved to 6-0 with a unanimous decision over Eddie Estrella of Moreno Valley (2-4). Adamyan controlled the bout with jabs and straight right hands as a backpedaling Estrella was often reluctant to enter into exchanges.