INDIO, Calif. - Gregory Morales took a step forward toward contender status Friday night.

Morales dominated Jayvon Garnett during the second half of their featherweight fight, winning by unanimous decision before a partisan crowd at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Scores were 99-91, 98-92 and 96-94 for Morales, who improved to 17-1, 9 knockouts.

From the opening bell, Morales walked down the shorter Garnett. Undaunted, Garnett focused his attack to the body, throwing and landing jabs and straight right hands.

Garnett was effective at times, connecting an overhand right to the head during much of the first half of the fight.

Morales began connecting more punches in round four, particularly with lead or counter right crosses to Garnett’s head. Garnett swung momentum back his way in round five, outlanding and outboxing Morales throughout much of the round.

Both fighters stood in the pocket early during round seven, producing exchanges where each fighter landed flush to the head, with Morales landing the cleaner and more effective punches.

Garnett’s punch output noticeably dropped with each round during the second half of the fight. Morales threw and landed more, especially left and right hands to the body. Garnett tired as by the handful of times referee Ray Armendariz had to put Garnett’s mouthguard back in his mouth.

Garnett tried mounting an offense during the final round, but Morales continued being the aggressor, leading to more openings where he capitalized by landing more to Garnett’s head and body.

Morales previously fought on January 27, defeating Ronal Ron by unanimous decision. The 23-year-old has now won his last four bouts since losing by unanimous decision to Katsuma Akitsugi in April 2022.

The 29-year-old Garnett, who resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, falls to 10-2, 5 KOs. The loss to Morales was Garnett’s first fight since a decision loss to featherweight contender Luis Nunez in September 2021.

Junior middleweight Grant Flores of nearby Coachella battered Juan Meza (4-6, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles, before the fight ended in round two. Flores improved to 6-0, 5 KOs

Meza chose to stand in the pocket with Flores, who scored at will, whether to the head or body. During the second round, Meza’s head snapped back from the number of hooks or crosses Flores connected. After a series of punches landed to the head of Meza, referee Ray Corona stopped the fight at 1:54.

Flores is trained by Joel and Antonio Diaz, and is the cousin of featherweight Manuel Flores.

In featherweight action, Jorge Chavez of Tijuana, Mexico defeated Mexico City’s Riku Kitani (8-3,3 KOs) by decision. All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favor of Chavez, who goes to 12-0, 8 KOs.

Guzman worked behind a jab, landing straight right hands or crosses to the head of Kitani, who had his moments, but did not land at the same pace as Guzman.

Lightweight Bryan Lua, who lives and trains in Indio, stopped Diuhl Olguin (16-39-7, 10 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico in the fifth round. Lua goes to 10-0, 5 KOs.

Olguin was game, finding openings to connect to the head and body, but the physically bigger Lua wore him down by walking him down and attacking him with a higher punch volume. Olguin’s corner saw enough and threw in the towel, prompting referee Ray Corona to stop the fight at 2:03.

In middleweight action, Fabian Guzman (5-0, 5 KOs) of Orange, California knocked out Corey Cook at 2:14 of the opening round. A left hook to the body dropped Cook down and out for the count. Cook, who resides in Las Vegas, falls to 2-2-1, 1 KO.

In the opening bout of the Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN card, lightweight Juan Estrada, Jr. defeated Dyllon Cervantes (3-3-1, 2 KOs) of Salt Lake City, Utah by decision. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 for Estrada (3-0, 1 KO), who resides in Phoenix, Arizona.