BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania – Atif Oberlton playfully proclaimed, according to what was embroidered on his cape, that he was “here to save boxing” as he walked to the ring Friday night.

That’s a much taller order than even this 6-foot-3 southpaw can handle, but the light heavyweight prospect from Philadelphia preserved his perfect record at Wind Creek Event Center. The 24-year-old Oberlton, a two-time national Golden Gloves champion, went the distance for just the second time in eight professional fights, but he hammered Artem Brusov’s body at times, handled the rugged Russian’s power well and won their televised eight-rounder by unanimous decision.

Oberlton beat Brusov on the scorecards of judges Dewey LaRosa (78-74), Anthony Lundy (78-74) and Steve Weisfeld (79-73).

Oberlton improved to 8-0 by winning a fight Showtime televised as part of its “ShoBox: The New Generation” series. Brusov, 31, lost for the first time as a professional (12-1, 11 KOs).

By the later rounds, it was clear that the aggressive Brusov needed a knockout to win.

Brusov pressed the action during the seventh and eighth rounds, but Oberlton often blocked or slipped his punches. Oberlton connected with two left uppercuts in the eighth round that caught the crowd’s attention.

A straight left by Oberlton knocked Brusov into the ropes with a minute remaining in their bout, but Brosov waved him forward.

Oberlton worked off his jab for most of the sixth round, though he did snap Brusov’s head back with a straight left just before the 10-second warning sounded at ringside. Oberlton also defended himself well in the sixth round, when he deflected many of Brusov’s shots with his gloves.

Brusov caught Oberlton with a left hook as Oberlton backed up about 50 seconds into the fifth round. Brusov landed a straight right later in the fifth round.

Oberlton landed a left hand and Brusov snuck in a right during an exchange that took place in the middle of the ring in the final minute of the fourth round.

Oberlton’s hard lefts to Brusov’s body affected Brusov in the opening minute of the third round. Those punishing punches made Brusov wary of exchanging with Oberlton for the remainder of the third round.

Oberlton blasted Brusov with a right uppercut just before the second round ended. A left-right combination by Oberlton made Brusov move into the ropes barely a minute into the second round.

Brusov’s right uppercut connected about 45 seconds into the second round. Oberlton backed up Brusov with a hard jab early in the second round.

Brusov landed his straight right several times in the opening round, but Oberlton took those punches well. Brusov suffered a cut around his right eye early in the first round, when their heads accidentally clashed.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.