Undefeated tremendous middleweight prospects Sean Hemphill (14-0, 8 KOs) from New Orleans and David Stevens (11-0, 8 KOs) from Studying, Pa., each made weight Thursday, a day forward of their eight-round predominant occasion showdown on SHOBOX: The New Technology tomorrow night time, Friday, January 20 reside on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT from Wind Creek On line casino in Bethlehem, Pa.
The co-feature pits undefeated prospect and Philadelphian Atif Oberlton (7-0, 6 KOs) and the power-punching Russian now coaching in South Florida Artem Brusov (12-0, 11 KOs) in an eight-round mild heavyweight bout. Plus, in a battle of two unbeaten Pennsylvanians, KO artist Julian Gonzalez (8-0-1, 8 KOs) from Studying faces Ellwood Metropolis’s Rosalindo Morales (9-0, 2 KOs) in an eight-round tremendous featherweight bout that opens the three-fight telecast.
Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Famer Barry Tompkins will name the motion with former world champion Raul Márquez and veteran fight sports activities reporter and MORNING KOMBAT host Brian Campbell additionally serving as an knowledgeable analyst, and Corridor of Famer Steve Farhood remotely performing unofficial scoring duties. The chief producer of SHOBOX: The New Technology is Gordon Corridor with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
The tripleheader is promoted by King’s Promotions.
FINAL WEIGHTS
Tremendous Middleweight Eight-Spherical Bout
Sean Hemphill – 166 kilos
David Stevens – 165.7 kilos
Referee: Shawn Clark; Judges: Steve Weisfeld (NJ); Dewey LaRosa (Pa.); Adam Friscia (Pa.)
Gentle Heavyweight Eight-Spherical Bout
Atif Oberlton – 174.2 kilos
Artem Brusov – 173.7 kilos
Referee: Eric Dali; Judges: Steve Weisfeld (N.J.); Dewey LaRosa (Pa.); Anthony Lundy (N.J.)
Tremendous Featherweight Eight-Spherical Bout
Julian Gonzalez – 129.9 kilos
Rosalindo Morales – 129.5 kilos
Referee: Shawn Clark; Judges: Steve Weisfeld (NJ); Dewey LaRosa (Pa.); Adam Friscia (Pa.)
FINAL QUOTES:
SEAN HEMPHILL
“I’m targeted and hungry and that is the chance that I actually wished. I feel I’ve the benefit in expertise and a bit of little bit of maturity understanding he’s youthful than me. He has 11 fights and I’ve 14, which isn’t that a lot of a distinction, however by way of combating and the various types I’ve confronted as a professional and within the amateurs, I really feel like that can assist me rather a lot. My peak and attain benefit and the crew that I’ve backing me and supporting me is also necessary.
“Buddy McGirt’s addition as a coach has simply let me know that the instruments that I do have are actually nice instruments and I simply must do extra of it, utilizing my jab, standing on my toes and taking little angles, trusting my protection. Buddy simply assures me to maintain doing what works finest for me and staying sharp and serving to me with totally different methods and methods.
“Certainly one of my biggest attributes is my peak and my attain and being elusive on my ft and dancing across the ring a bit of bit. I undoubtedly wish to field him and maintain him on the finish of my jab and arrange mixtures right here and there. However sure, it’s boxing for me. That’s what I do.
“I count on Stevens to come back ahead and to attempt to land energy photographs, a one-hit marvel sort of factor. I had an awesome camp, did a couple of weeks in New York, labored with totally different guys up there, then a pair weeks in Florida, and had some actually good guys to work with there so it’s been a extremely good camp for me.
“I want to field but when I’ve to combat him, I’ll combat. I’m a fighter on the finish of the day and if he brings it to me, I’m going to carry it proper again. He’s the very best man I’ve fought on paper, and that is the most important combat of my profession.
“My dad was a two-time world kick-boxing champion, and I grew up within the health club and I used to be all the time round fighters rising up. However after I was a child, I by no means pictured myself taking over boxing. I by no means actually selected to do it till Hurricane Katrina occurred, and I moved to Texas with my mother, and I used to be dislocated from my dad for awhile and I began wrestling in highschool. I ended up transferring again with my dad to New Orleans as a teen after which I began going again to the health club and falling in love with the game of boxing. I had my first competitors at 15 and since then I made a dedication to myself that that is what I’m going to do.”
HEMPHILL’S MANAGER, ADAM GLENN
“Sean is somebody who I’ve recognized for a extremely very long time. After I first met him, he truly got here as much as New York to assist one in every of my dad’s fighters prepare for a SHOBOX combat when he labored with [former prospect] Travis Peterkin. He was younger however I felt like we actually understood one another. We each had fathers who have been within the sport and who we have been actually near and his character and the individual he’s actually attracted me to him.
“However he additionally has a number of coronary heart and a number of canine in him. I need him to combat much less and use the expertise and abilities extra as a result of he could make a number of these fights very easy for himself. But when a man brings it, he can deal with it and seeing a gifted, versatile man like that, I assumed he has a extremely excessive ceiling. He has world championship potential.”
DAVID STEVENS
“This implies rather a lot to be combating on TV and in a predominant occasion. It’s necessary that I present that I’m main-event materials after I stand up there. I’m simply excited and able to go.
“I really feel like my energy comes with me in all places I am going, particularly after I rehydrate, particularly after I placed on these 10-ounce gloves.
“I don’t actually see a lot in my opponent. He’s one other man in there with an undefeated report so you must educate him how you can lose. He’s coming to take from me and I’m coming to take from him, however I don’t see a lot. I’m not likely impressed. He’s an undefeated fighter so I’m positive he’s not going to put down. I’ve to go in there and take it. I see size and motion. I’m not going to sleep on his energy however that’s not one of many issues that stood out to me.
“I’m a stress fighter so I’m going to get into his face immediately. That’s what we’re engaged on in camp. I’m making an attempt to be a pest in there. I’m not making an attempt to let him chill out or set issues up. I’m making an attempt to get proper on him.
“My coach Ronnie Shields has introduced rather a lot to the desk. To me so far as trainers, he’s like a God. He all the time is aware of what to anticipate from an opponent. There’s been instances after we’ve gone by way of 5 opponents in every week and he’s had one thing for each one in every of them. Ronnie brings rather a lot. He’s made an awesome affect on my profession. He has me feeling good and prepared and assured earlier than fights. Every week within the health club with Ronnie and I really feel like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to get this dude.’ Regardless of who it’s.
“Ronnie has actually helped me decide issues up so far as attacking the physique and utilizing my jab, however I’ve all the time been a bit of little bit of a physique puncher, however he’s been on me about these issues. Sean is fairly prolonged and likes to make use of his legs so we’re going to should fuel him out a bit of by going to the physique and slowing him down. I’m making an attempt to actually present that I’m prepared for high-level opposition. And the faster I can get him, then I can present I’m able to face guys that can get me prepared for guys like Canelo [Alvarez] and [David] Benavidez and [Demetrius] Andrade.
“I’m the oldest of 12 siblings, so I’ve to be a superb function mannequin.”
ATIF OBERLTON
“I’m excited for the chance. I’m going to show all my laborious work and expertise and let that talk for itself. I’m simply going to have a enjoyable night time of boxing.
“My confidence comes from simply having to be assured as a result of no person was going to be assured for me. It was a kind of issues the place I needed to construct myself up. The issues that I went by way of early on in life confirmed me that you must think about your self or nobody will.
“In boxing, I’ve needed to show myself over and over to different folks, and in addition to myself that I’m the very best within the enterprise. I proved that as a toddler early in age, I proved it as a teen, I’ve proved it as a person and I’m proving it now within the professional ranks as I’m persevering with my profession. As a toddler, I used to be all the time totally different. On the age of 14, I bought Alopecia going into my freshman yr of highschool. That did one thing to my self-confidence as a younger child. Me having no hair made me utterly totally different so I needed to construct myself up and boxing gave me an opportunity to try this. I consider the phrase, ‘Boxing is life’, as a result of you’ll be able to examine so many issues that occur in life to boxing and also you simply should maintain combating. That’s what world champions do.
“I simply know that Artem Brusov is a Russian, and people guys come robust and so they are available form. I’m ready for something. I really feel as if he isn’t something that I haven’t seen earlier than. I’ve worldwide expertise. I fought on the planet championships in Russia earlier than. I’m simply coming to show the very best me and put my boxing expertise on show.
“This combat isn’t about proving something to the followers or the media, it’s about proving to myself that I’m who I say I’m. It’s essential for me to look spectacular in all my wins. I’m by no means actually blissful for an unsightly win, however I’ll take an unsightly win over a fairly loss any day. However we’re undoubtedly trying to have a fairly win and proceed to have fairly wins on a regular basis.
“Arising, you must combat every little thing that you must combat in life, alongside along with your opponent. Arising from Philadelphia isn’t simple. It’s each man for themselves and you must present that you simply’re one of many particular ones to go on the market and shine and be a star.
“My favourite Philadelphia fighters are the old fashioned guys. I like Tim Witherspoon, Eric Hunter was a superb, technical boxer. I preferred George Benton rather a lot. I like to review. I’m an enormous pupil. Philadelphia is so wealthy in boxing. I just lately watched Curtis Parker. He was an incredible fighter. I like to look at Michael Spinks. He dominated the sunshine heavyweight division for a very long time. I like to take a look at those that have been in my footwear earlier than me to see how they bought it completed and see what it takes to get to the following stage. I just lately bought to satisfy him at an awards ceremony and I requested him a pair questions, like what he did for his conditioning, as a result of I see that he all the time pushes by way of in his fights.
ARTEM BRUSOV
“I feel this can be a nice likelihood for me. I’m dealing with a sport opponent and he has a superb report. However I’m not too unhealthy both and I simply actually wish to present the folks an excellent combat, I hope.
“For every combat I like to point out totally different types. Typically I can press, I could be a puncher, and generally I can field. It is dependent upon the combat. Inside work shall be necessary and we’ve been engaged on many issues to arrange for this combat.
“It is a large step-up combat for me. We will see within the ring. This combat will reply a number of questions.
“I don’t thoughts combating a lefty. I’ve been sparring a number of southpaws and my final two fights have been towards lefties.
“There aren’t too many variations combating in Russia and in america. Within the U.S. I see that the fighters right here throw extra punches and are available ahead. It’s extra of a present. It’s been laborious to get folks to combat me.”
JULIAN GONZALEZ
“I had a attract my combat final April, and I’m OK with it. It was only a complete studying course of. I fought by way of some adversity and was having another private points. However I simply really feel like I wanted it, to even simply get me these six rounds as a result of I used to be simply knocking everybody out earlier than then. I agreed with the scoring and the judges’ resolution.
“I’m blessed and simply excited. I can’t wait. I’ve by no means confronted any adversity within the ring or been harm or in hassle.
“I’m in there to go the gap, that’s what we practice for. That is my first lefty and I targeted on that in sparring.
“Sometime I wish to be one of many greats and wish to maintain some belts and {hardware}.
“Floyd [Mayweather] is one in every of my favourite fighters, simply what he did each inside and out of doors of the ring. He’s a genius. Combating-wise I like Canelo [Alvarez] and Errol [Spence] as a result of I am going to the physique rather a lot. And Andre Ward. I take a look at everybody. I’m a pupil of the sport.
“I’ve sparred prior to now with Stephen Fulton Jr., and that was an awesome expertise for me. Scooter’s the most effective and it offers me a number of confidence. I used to be like a sponge and I simply tried to soak all of it up.
“Studying’s going to point out out on Friday night time. David [Stevens] is my man. He’s a heavy hitter and he’s sensible. He’s a canine, actually. I can’t say rather more than that.”
ROSALINDO MORALES
“Simply to be on this platform and combating on SHOBOX will change my life. I’m extraordinarily grateful for this chance.
“I’m a fairly straight-forward fighter. I’ve realized rather a lot the previous couple of years – the technical facets of the candy science. I wish to say I’m slick, at instances. I don’t wish to get hit. I imply, no person does. I come as your typical Mexican fighter: Straight ahead and an influence puncher. Simply do no matter I’ve to do to get the job completed.
“My opponent has eight knockouts so I do know he’s going to come back ahead too. He clearly has energy and I’ve to be sensible about it. I’m going to be the aggressor and take it to him. He’s younger, I’m positive he’s robust. I do know he’s going to attempt to overpower me.
“I work in a metal mill and it’s back-breaking work and 12-hour shifts. It is a dream come true and if I get a win on Friday night time it may change my life.
“I’m lefthanded and might change if I’ve to. I’m not technically comfy with it, but when I’ve to do it, I can.
“I’m from San Antonio however moved to Pennsylvania at age 10. I’ve all the time wished to return and convey my household, however I haven’t been ready to try this but.”