photo by Tom Casino – Tonight at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA, Gary Shaw Productions middleweight contender Tureano Johnson (14-1, 10 KOs), was robbed of his opportunity to continue fighting with Curtis Stevens (27-4, 20 KOs) when referee Gary Rosato prematurely stopped the bout at the 2:09 mark of the tenth and final round.
Johnson, who controlled the action early on, got off to a great start and mounted a considerable lead against Stevens’s midway through the bout. As the fight entered the final rounds, Johnson continued to stand his ground and win rounds as both fighters were going toe to toe. Entering the tenth and final round, Stevens, who was clearly down on the scorecards, landed a nice left hook that slowed Johnson down, and the referee halted the bout prematurely. Tureano Johnson was clearly ahead on the scorecards and had plenty of life left to finish the bout before the referee stopped the action. When the bout was stopped, boos from the crowed were heard throughout the arena, validating a premature stoppage.
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