PBC on Spike results: Stevenson, Spence score thunderous KOs

Adonis Stevenson and Tommy Karpency put on just over two rounds of entertaining action to close out tonight's unexpectedly satisfying PBC on ESPN broadcast. Stevenson (27-1, 22 KO) looked to start the fight slowly as usual, but Karpency (25-5-1, 14 KO) wouldn't allow it, and quickly ran in with a flurry of punches. Stevenson, ever the accurate puncher, countered with a short left hand that might've changed another fighter's mind, but Karpency was game. In the second round, Karpency snuck in some hard, clean punches, but Stevenson responded to each and every one, putting Karpency down just before the bell with a marvelous straight left. Karpency survived to see the third round, but Stevenson quickly earned a second knockdown that convinced the referee to save Tommy from further punishment.

The fight was surprisingly competitive, but ultimately Stevenson got the win he was supposed to get. Let's hope we see Stevenson's considerable skill in a more competitive matchup soon--he called out Sergei Kovalev at the end of the fight, but we know how that goes.

Adonis Stevenson defeats Tommy Karpency by TKO (referee stoppage) at 0:21 of Round 3

Undefeated prospect Prichard Colon took to the ring before the main event, and put on a stunning display against wayward former titlist Vivian Harris. Colon (15-0, 12 KO) started off strong, showing off a lightning fast up-jab and a nasty left hook to go with it. Harris (32-10, 19 KO) looked to counter, and had some success at the start of each round, but Colon was faster, and managed to sneak in the harder punches. In the fourth round Colon used a straight right to the body to set up a short wide right upstairs that Harris never saw coming. A few academic punches and Harris crumbled in the corner, ending the bout.

Prichard Colon defeats Vivian Harris by KO at 1:03 of Round 4

The night started off strong with a co-feature between top prospect and now contender-to-be Errol Spence Jr., who found himself matched against game South African Chris Van Heerden. Spence (18-0, 15 KO) started off strong, throwing his stiff right jab up and down to set Van Heerden up for powerful left hands. Van Heerden (23-2-1, 12 KO) was up for the punishment, and answered back with a solid body assault. Spence answered every combination with two or three of his own, however, and by the middle rounds he was picking off most of what Van Heerden threw at him. In the seventh round Van Heerden went down for the first time in his career on a nasty left hand behind the ear, and then again shortly after on a left uppercut to the belly. Van Heerden survived the round, but despite a sallying forth strongly in the next round Spence quickly hurt him again and forced the stoppage.

Errol Spence defeats Chris Van Heerden by TKO (referee stoppage) at 0:50 of Round 8