Underestimating an opponent could lead to disaster for a fighter. It almost did for Tiger Smalls.

Smalls, the current WBO Intercontinental Featherweight champion, secured a close majority decision victory over Pedro Mora in front of a capacity crowd of 600 at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, CA.

The bout headlined a six-bout dinner show presented by All Star Boxing.

Smalls, whose title was not on the line in this eight round bout, had his hands full against a fighter who constantly pressured him during the first half of the fight.

Mora was crafty enough at the beginning of the fight to land some left hooks to the head. Most of what Mora threw was blocked or landed on Smalls arms, yet prompted huge cheers from Mora's supporters.

Following the fifth round, Smalls clearly was the more effective fighter, landing stinging jabs and scoring with straight right hands and crosses.

The last two rounds saw both fighters trade heavy shots. Both came at each other as Smalls continued to land the more telling blows.

One judge scored the bout even at 76-76, while two judges scored it 78-74 and 77-75 for Smalls. Fightnews.com scored the bout 77-75 in favor of Smalls.

Smalls knew Mora was a tough fighter, but did not give him any shot of winning.

"I do have to be honest and say that I did underestimate him," said Smalls in his dressing room after the fight. "He was clever in that he crouched low enough where I couldn't land as many body shots as I wanted. It was a definite contrast in styles. I'll give him his due. He was a tough fighter who came to win. I knew it was a close fight, but I knew I won it."

Asked about future plans, Smalls replied, "If he wants, I'll give him a rematch. Now I'll know what to do against him. I only trained for two and a half weeks. I do have a title defense in February; we'll see what happens."

Smalls, from San Diego by way of Freeport, NY, improves to 17-6-1, 9 KO's. Mora, from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, falls to 9-8, 2 KO's.

Buddy Tyson earned a hard-fought six round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Parra in Super Welterweight action.

Tyson, who had not fought in a year, exhibited good movement and speed to pick apart Parra during the first half of the fight.

Parra was game throughout the fight, landing left hooks flush to Tyson's face and doing it consistently in the fifth, which was his best round.

However, he became tired and Tyson finished strong by landing sharp right hands and hooks to the face and body.

All three judges awarded Tyson the bout, by scores of 60-54, 60-54, and 59-55. Fightnews.com scored the bout in favor of Tyson 59-55.

Afterwards, Tyson did admit the year's absence from the ring did play a part in the bout. It was also noted that Tyson hurt his right arm in the third round.

"I knew that I was ahead in the fight that I could use my left hand more," said Tyson, whose real name is Byron. "Whenever I wanted to throw the right hand, I felt it getting worse. I did feel a bit rusty and my timing was a bit off. I wanted the KO, but I'll gladly take the victory

Tyson, from Los Angeles, improves to 6-0, 4 KO's. Parra, from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, falls to 7-3-1, 7 KO's.

Middleweight Erin Toughill controlled the action and won a four round decision over Kuulei Kupthea.

Toughill landed the more significant punches against the southpaw Kupthea. Toughill was the aggressor, as Kupthea attempted to counterpunch Toughill's offense.

Kupthea was in the fight, yet didn't have the accuracy as Toughill did. In the fourth, blood started streaming down Kupthea's nose.

All three judges scored the bout 40-36 for Toughill. Fightnews.com had the same score for Toughill.

After the bout, Toughill explained the only surprise in the bout was Kupthea's stance.

"I didn't expect her to be a southpaw," said Toughill, who stands at five feet 10 inches and also has a no contest against Jacqui Frazier-Lyde. "She was tough. I know that she didn't come here to lose. As long as I am always prepared and was able to work on the body, I knew I would come out victorious."

Toughill, from Orange, CA, improves to 4-1-1. Kupthea, from Honolulu, HI, loses her professional debut.

Welterweight Santiago Perez survived being hurt in the first round to win a four round decision over Francisco Zepeda.

Zepeda hurt Perez with a left hook that staggered him. The bell saved Perez from any further punishment by Zepeda.

Perez came back and dominated the fight by consistently landing left hooks and straight right hands.

Perez ended the third round by knocking down Zepeda with a left hook and even began the fourth round by dropping Zepeda again, this time with a straight right hand.

Zepeda was game, but attempted to do whatever to survive the last round.

All three judges scored the bout 39-35 in favor of Perez. Fightnews.com scored the bout the same for Perez.

Perez, from Guerrero, Mexico, goes to 2-0. Zepeda, from Michoacan, Mexico, falls to 0-2-1.

In Super Middleweight action, Carlos Guzman and Gerardo Graham fought to a four round split-decision draw.

Graham hurt Guzman in the first, but Guzman came back to use his awkward style to effectively land punches against Graham. As the bout progressed, Graham looked to only land one big punch at a time.

One judge had Graham and Guzman each winning the fight on scored of 39-37, while the third judge had the fight even at 38-38. Fightnews.com scored the bout 39-37 in favor of Guzman.

Guzman, from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, goes to 1-1-1. Graham, from Long Beach, CA, goes to 1-2-2, 1 KO.

Heavyweight Jason Condon survived a first round knockdown to score a four round split-decision victory over Tee Lauti.

A right cross dropped the taller Condon in the first round. Condon bounced back and used his reach to land jabs and straight right hands. As the bout progressed, Lauti began to tire and Condon fought in close to land more punches.

Condon's awkward style almost got him in trouble, as he would jump into Lauti's punch range.

Two judges' scorecards of 38-37 for Condon overruled the 38-37 score for Lauti. Fightnews.com scored the bout 38-37 for Condon.

Condon improves to 1-0-1, while Lauti loses his professional debut. Both are from Compton, CA.

Notes: - This was another successful dinner show for All Star Boxing. For $100, fight fans enjoyed six bouts, plus a dinner of shrimp scampi and filet mignon. Young comedians from the Improv, including comedian Rick Martinez, and a jazz band (The Wiseguys) entertained before the card began.

- Newly crowned WBO Light Heavyweight champion Julio Gonzalez was recognized by the World Boxing Hall of Fame and presented with an award for becoming the first Mexican descent Light Heavyweight champion of the world. "It is an honor to become a world champion and I thank you for your support," said Gonzalez to the crowd.

- Next All Star Boxing event at the Quiet Cannon is set for February 13th.

- Ring announcer was Jim Fitzgerald.

- Dini Hilgeson sang the national anthem.