By: Sean Crose
Showtime’s ShoBox is back on Friday night with a three-match game televised from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Featherweight 9-0 Rosalindo Morales started things off with a match against Julian Gonzalez 8-0 in a scheduled eighth. The first round, while not slow, was a sensational process for both fighters – until Morales was knocked out by Gonzalez with a single punch. Suffice it to say, Morales beat numbers. However, he still looked out in his corner between rounds.
With that in mind, Morales had a better second, moving forward to reach his man despite the blood running down his face. Gonzalez was once again able to land well in the third inning. Gonzalez continued to kick his own man in the fourth round, causing the referee to stop the game.
This was followed by Artem Brusov 12-0 and Artif Oberlton 7-0, battling each other in a scheduled eight inning light heavyweight bout. Both men threw some heavy leather the first time. Brusov looked strong, although a headbutt sent blood running down his face. Olberton asserted himself in the second half with quick, powerful and precise punches. By the third round, Olberton was clearly controlling the tempo of the game.
Brusov fought hard in the fourth round, but he was unable to effectively close in on his man to make anything really happen. With that said, Brusev can land sometimes in the fifth inning, but Olberton can mostly use his south jab to good effect. Krusev kept things competitive enough for season six, but was it enough?
The seventh saw Krusev keep trying to reach his man – to no great effect. Olberton’s defense is too sharp. The second accidental headbutt marked the eighth. That is no consequence. Olberton walked out of the ring with his eighth win in the strait, thanks to the unanimous verdict of the referees.
It’s time for the main event. David Stevens 11-0 vs Sean Hemphill 14-0 in a super-middle throw-in scheduled for eight.
Hemphill was smooth and delusional the first time around, holding Stevens in with a long, sharp jab. That stab told the story of the second inning, though Stevens found his men at the last minute of the round. Hemphill looked like he slowed down a bit in the third inning, which allowed Stevens to get close to him. Hemphill was able to reassert himself a bit more in the fourth inning, though Stevens continued to push towards him while shooting away.
Stevens was able to rock his man in the fifth inning, although Hemphill did well. Friday is a tiring affair. Stevens hit hard, but Hemphill was able to do a good job inside. The boxers continued to crush in the seventh round. In the eighth and final round, the two warriors continued to rush into each other. Then, within seconds, Stevens on the left knocked out Hemphill in a thunderous fashion. Hemphill passed the count, but Stevens eventually moved everything before the final bell rang.
And he did exactly that. The referee stops play before the final bell rings.
