By Jake Donovan

Alejandro 'Payasito' Hernandez overcame a rough start to force countryman Humberto Morales into submission inside of eight rounds, albeit in a bizarre conclusion to their Telemundo-televised main event Friday evening at Auditorio Blackberry in Mexico City. 

Despite both fighters boasting 11 losses each, Hernandez is considered several rungs above Morales. It didn't play out that way in the early rounds, as the former bantamweight title challenger was given all that he can handle, and a swollen left eye to boot.

As he's done his entire career and especially in his late surge, Hernandez managed to overcome adversity to avoid disaster. The bout remained competitive throughout but with the Boxeo Telemundo series favorite ralling as the action enterd the second half of the contest. 

Hernandez put together a few very good rounds, also causing swelling around Morales' left eye. A good action sequence was abruptly halted in round eight when Morales' cornerman climbed up the stairs to signa to the referee that his fighter was done for the night. 

The stoppage allowed Hernandez to dodge a bullet, picking up his second straight win as he advances to 30-11-2 (16KOs). His previous victory also came on Telemundo, scoring a 10-round decision over Martin 'Pini' Casillas in March, returning to the win column following a hard-fought split decision loss to then-unbeaten bantamweight titlist Tomoki Kameda last November.

Morales falls to 14-12-4 (8KOs) with the loss, snapping a seven-fight unbeaten streak.

In supporting action, Gabriel Perea (7-1, 5KOs) won in his first fight back in more than a year, scoring a 3rd round knockout of Irvin Marin (7-2, 2KOs). 

Both bouts aired on what served as the summer season finale of Boxeo Telemundo. The network returns to the boxing fold with its fall season due to begin October 2. 

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox