“That Is Really Poor Officiating. Dude Was Done After the First Knockdown”: Boxing World Left Angered at Referee in Last Second Ko Victory Match

The boxing world was left angered at the referee in a last-second KO victory between David Stevens and Sean Hemphill. The bout, which was the main event of the ShoBox series, saw Stevens drop Hemphill twice in the late final round, leading to a TKO victory. However, many fans and experts have criticized the referee for not stopping the fight earlier, as they believe Hemphill was “done” after the first knockdown. This sentiment was echoed in the comment section of the clip shared by Showtime Boxing. The post carried a caption that read, “What an ending”.

A popular comment read, “That is really poor officiating. Dude was done after the first knockdown.” The decision to allow the fight to continue has raised questions about the safety of the fighters and the role of the referees in ensuring their well-being. 

David Stevens vs Sean Hemphill 

The match between David Stevens and Sean Hemphill was a highly anticipated one. Both fighters have a reputation for being fierce competitors. The fight took place in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and was the main event of ShoBox. Back in 2021, Showtime Boxing orchestrated a deal with YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul.

The fight started off with both fighters showing off their skills and exchanging blows. Hemphill was the more aggressive fighter, but Stevens was able to counter effectively. As the fight progressed, Stevens began to gain the upper hand, and in the late final round, he landed a powerful punch that dropped Hemphill to the canvas. 

The referee allowed the fight to continue, and Stevens took advantage of the opportunity by landing another punch that dropped Hemphill again. This time, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight, declaring Stevens the winner by TKO.

The victory was a big one for Stevens. He had been working hard to establish himself as a top contender in the sport. However, the controversy surrounding the referee’s decision has overshadowed the victory. Many fans and experts are questioning why the fight was allowed to continue after the first knockdown.

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Fans are furious on letting the fight continue

No one is contending against the fact that Stevens won. But the triggered community is claiming that Hemphill should have not been allowed to continue after the first knockout. Below are some of the enraged comments.

https://twitter.com/itstazb/status/1616649435559206912

Very great reff way to catch his head before it could bounce off the canvas , that boxer was so tired

— Adam Zitsch (@AdamZitsch) January 21, 2023

Expand Tweet

https://twitter.com/aaaaaaaaazxa/status/1616657346008350720

While many were not happy, some comments were really constructive.

https://twitter.com/MarcusBeenTrill/status/1616798778874363904

https://twitter.com/AndrewVorhees/status/1616650189317488641

The match between David Stevens and Sean Hemphill ended with a TKO victory for Stevens. But the controversy surrounding the referee’s decision to allow the fight to continue after the first knockdown has left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans and experts.

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