We introduce a new constant for the surfaces of revolution homeomorphic to the 2-sphere. We prove a sphere theorem for radial curvature, assuming an inequality in the constant and the ratio of the difference of the maximal distance to the base point from the diameter of the reference surface and the injectivity radius of the base point. Namely, if a compact pointed Riemannian $n$-manifold which is referred to a surface of revolution satisfies the inequality, then it is topologically an $n$-sphere.