David Stevens Scores Dramatic TKO In ShoBox Headliner

Friday night was supposed to be a big step in to bigger fights for unbeaten middleweight prospect Sean Hemphill of New Orleans. But, his fellow unbeaten prospect in the main event, David Stevens, stopped him dramatically in the final seconds of the eighth and final round to snatch the limelight.

The bout capped the “ShoBox” series main event from Showtime Networks, from Bethlehem, PA, Friday night with a the crowd at the Wind Creek Casino roaring in final moments of the main event,

WHAT AN ENDING 😮‍💨

David Stevens gets the KO in the final seconds of the final round!#HemphillStevens #SHOBOX pic.twitter.com/8gIivrP5NY

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 21, 2023

Stevens, now 12-0, 9 KOS, from nearby Reading, PA, was actually ahead on all three scorecards entering the final round, but that was something he could not be sure of for a possible decision win.

And, he left no doubt by wearing down Hemphill with a barrage of punches, trapping him in a corner and eventually dropping him with fewer than :25 remaining from a right, follow by a left hand to the right, top of Hemphill’s head sending him on to his backside. Hemphill, now 14-1, staggered to his feet to take the 8-count, but even while wobbly, will still allowed to try to finish the fight by referee Shawn Clark.

The 22 year old Stevens didn’t let it finish, as he came in, caught Hemphill with a glancing right and then, another hard left on the chin dropped Hemphill for the second and final time with Clark waiving the fight off at 2:58 of the eighth.

“I felt like it was a good performance in front of my hometown crowd,” Stevens said in the ring post fight. “I didn’t know how the judges had it scored and I knew I wasn’t executing like I should have been, and I had to pick it up like my corner was telling me. Near the end I just had to stay relaxed. I think I could have done a better. Just improved on a little bit of everything. We were both breathing pretty heavy near the end there and I knew I just needed to keep pushing.”

Again, it’s important to note that Stevens not only had a solid lead on the three judges cards, but, even if the fight had finished, he would have had a 10-7 final round and won easily by unanimous decision.

Still, the dramatics of the TKO made a big impression on the crowd in attendance and those fans watching on Showtime.

The co-feature Friday night on “ShoBox” saw Philadelphia light heavyweight Atif Oberlton, now 8-0, 6 KOs,, score an impressive decision over Artem Brusov (12-1, 11 KOs) over eight rounds.. The 24-year-old Oberlton winning by scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 78-74 to remain undefeated.