Curtis Stevens was once part of a failed prospect duo called "The Chin Checkers" with Jaidon Codrington. Codrington is long gone from the sport now, and it appeared for some time that Stevens would be, too. But under Main Events' promotional banner, the 28-year-old Brooklyn native has experienced an unexpected resurgence, and he drew a lot of attention last night for his first-round knockout of Saul Roman.
In case any of the uninitiated are reading, let's be clear: Curtis Stevens is not beating world-class middleweights, but Saul Roman is a seasoned pro who has gone the limit with a lot of good fighters in his career. He's a good puncher himself, and has been proven tough many times over.
That Stevens (25-3, 18 KO) was able to so easily dispose of him with blunt power was impressive. It may not make "Showtime" a true top contender at middleweight, but it certainly has thrown him into the discussion, as we're now hearing talk of an HBO main event in November with division menace Gennady Golovkin.
Is Stevens ready for that? Look, odds are that he would most likely lose to Golovkin, a devastating puncher himself, and a much better overall boxer. But when a left hook like this one lands, it can be lights out for anyone. If nothing else, this is a man who has the age-old puncher's chance.