Atif Oberlton took advantage of the exposure he received in his pro debut Saturday.

The southpaw from Philadelphia stopped Nathan Sharp in the third round of a scheduled four-round cruiserweight fight FOX broadcast from Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. Oberlton, an accomplished amateur, battered Sharp to his body before referee Sharon Sands stopped their fight on the Caleb Plant-Caleb Truax undercard.

The poised light heavyweight prospect picked apart the shorter, slower Sharp and was winning easily prior to the stoppage 48 seconds into the third round.

Sharp (4-3, 4 KOs), of Merced, California, lost inside the distance for the first time in seven pro bouts.

Oberlton’s straight left to the body hurt Sharp again about 40 seconds into the third round. Sharp was still trying, but Sands determined it was time to stop the fight soon thereafter, with Sharp still on his feet.

Oberlton’s left to an exposed Sharp’s body hurt Sharp and made him double over in an attempt to protect himself with just over one minute to go in the second round. Sharp lunged and landed a right hand with just over 20 seconds to go in that second round.

Oberlton established his jab during the opening round and easily out-landed Sharp, who had difficulty getting inside on his taller, rangier opponent. 

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