Shawn Porter lands a punch to the face of Errol Spence Jnr. Photo: AP
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https://scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3030826/errol-spence-jnr-edges-shawn-porter-california-fight-year-contender Boxing
Errol Spence Jnr edges Shawn Porter by split decision in fight of the year contender
- Spence unified WBC and IBF welterweight titles in stacked division
- Porter makes a mockery of bookmakers’ predictions as he gives Spence Jnr toughest fight of his career
Errol Spence Jnr beat Shawn Porter to unify the WBC and IBF welterweight titles on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Errol Spence Jnr unified the WBC and IBF welterweight titles when he edged Shawn Porter by split decision in a tremendous fight in Los Angeles, California on Saturday night.
Veteran Porter made Spence work harder than ever before in his glittering career for the nod, constantly dragging him into unfamiliar territory in what was immediately dubbed a fight of the year contender.
The Staples Center was treated to a fight fought at a furious pace throughout, and as the battle ebbed and flowed, the two were neck-and-neck on many pundits’ scorecards throughout the bout.
Both men were happy to let their hands go as they pursued each other into every corner of the ring and turned the bout into a dog fight.
Porter’s unorthodox, pugnacious style baited Spence into many wild exchanges, starting with a thrilling stretch during the third and fourth rounds.
The defining moment came in the 11th round when Spence (26-0) opened up a gap in the scoring when he floored Porter with a short left hook. Porter was visibly frustrated with himself as he immediately bounded back to his feet and implored Spence to slug it out with him for the remainder of the round.
As they went into the 12th, it was thought the result could hinge on the outcome of the last chapter.
Shawn Porter is a tough fighter. He was rough and rugged and came to fight
In the end, the judges awarded a split decision to the still unbeaten Spence, 116-111, 112-115, 116-111.
Porter, whose record drops to 30-3-1, was a massive underdog with bookmakers before the fight and proceeded to make a mockery of the pre-fight predictions of a dominant win for Spence as he took the fight to the 29-year-old form the first bell.
Errol Spence Jnr and Shawn Porter exchange punches. Photo: AP
“Shawn Porter is a tough fighter,” said Spence after the fight. “He was rough and rugged and came to fight.”
Danny Garcia made an appearance in the ring during the post-fight interviews before it was announced that he will be Spence’s next opponent, scotching any hopes that there would be a showdown between the unbeaten champion and popular veteran Manny Pacquiao.