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Reading’s two undefeated boxers continued their winning streak on Friday night with David ‘Dynamite’ Stevens and Julian ‘Gifted’ Gonzalez winning matches against undefeated opponents at Bethlehem’s Wind Creek Casino.
Live on Showtime Network’s “Shobox: The New Generation,” Stevens (12-0, 9 KO) takes on Sean Hemphill (14-1, 8 KO) in the final round of the 166-pound super-middleweight bout. I won by knockout. .
Stevens said, “It felt good to perform in front of my hometown.” I felt good, I felt great, I felt calm.”
Gonzalez (9-0-1, 9 KO) fought at King’s Boxing Gym in Reading, defeating Rosalind Morales (9-1, 2 KO) by TKO in the fourth round of a super featherweight bout.
In the main event, after seven grueling and evenly contested rounds, both boxers opened their defenses in the eighth and final round hoping to land a knockout punch.Promoter King’s Promotions and King’s Boxing Gym Billed as a “boxer versus puncher” fight by Marshall Kauffman, Stevens used his position as puncher to his advantage.
In Stevens’ corner was Hall of Fame trainer Ronnie Shields.
“We were both a little heavier, so we had to push,” said Stevens. “My corner was a reminder that I worked hard.
“I’ve seen Ronnie cursing other guys, but I really didn’t want to be treated like that.”
Luckily for Stevens, and certainly with Shields’ approval, Stevens returned a weary Hemphill to a corner at the end of the eighth, hooking Hemphill to the canvas and knocking Hook’s fury. I let go.
Hemphill staggered back up and the round restarted with 10 seconds remaining.
Hemphill went down with two seconds remaining in the round to secure a knockout win for Stevens.
“I’ll have to go back and watch it, but I remember throwing big punches and following up,” Stevens said. I saw it do, so I started swinging toward the fence, well, I’m not swinging toward the fence, I’m just trying to connect.”
Stevens used his evasive abilities in the early rounds to dodge Hemphill’s punches and tire his opponent while working with jabs and body punches. In the later rounds, Stevens started using his strength to go for harder contact, looking like a fitter fighter. This is part of his team’s game plan.
“We could have executed[the game plan]better, but we got the job done,” Stevens said. “Definitely that was the game plan: smash him and stay in his face.
“Ideally, I wanted it sooner.”
The win extended Stevens’ undefeated streak and earned him recognition on the national stage, but Stevens, who fights at the East Reading Boxing Club, said he believed he could have performed better.
“I needed a better performance to open the door and let them know who I am,” Stevens said. “I felt like I could have done a lot better, but in the end I got the job done and it was right back to square one.”
As for Gonzalez, Gonzalez jumped onto the ropes in celebration after the referee finished the bout as the crowd chanted “RDG” for Reading’s boxer.
“It was amazing,” Gonzalez said after winning the televised fight. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there.”
In yet another “boxer versus puncher” matchup, Gonzalez’s punches dominated.
In the first round, Gonzalez landed a left hook to Morales’ head, putting Morales on the canvas seconds before the end of the round. Bloodied and dazed, Morales got up in time, but he struggled.
“When I got the first drop, they told me I could get them out of here,” Gonzalez said. “So I just had to stay calm and take the shot.”
In the fourth, González took a shot and landed a straight jab with his right hand, tripping Morales and leaving him defenseless, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 27 seconds into the round.
“I hit him with a few shots that really hurt him that round,” Gonzalez said. “But if I had to pick a shot, I think my right hand would have really worked.”
For Gonzalez, 21, the win is a step in the right direction for his career as a 130-pound prospect and will hopefully help put both him and his city in the spotlight. .
“It puts my name on it and puts Reading on the map,” Gonzalez said. “It’s getting bigger little by little.
“We will escalate because we will show people who I am and where I am.”
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