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Keith Thurman retains title in highly entertaining battle with Shawn Porter

Fighters Network
25
Jun
Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter launched and landed powerful punches until the final bell. Photo / Tom Casino / @ShowtimeBoxing

Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter launched and landed powerful punches until the final bell. Photo / Tom Casino / @ShowtimeBoxing

The sport had a rough week with Tyson Fury pulling out of his July heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko and Canelo Alvarez announcing his next bout, not against Gennady Golovkin. But fans got a pick-me-up in the form of Keith Thurman’s welterweight fight-a-palooza with Shawn Porter on Saturday.

When the 12th round ended, after a remarkable display of stamina, grit, skill, ruggedness and mettle, both men held their hands aloft, as the crowd, just as exhausted as the fighters, showered them with applause.

It was an exhilarating fight, filled with plot-shifts and high drama. Ultimately, the judges sided with Thurman’s boxing ability and cleaner shots to Porter’s mauling, high-energy style. Thurman won a close but unanimous decision by scores of 115-113, 115-113, 115-113 to retain his WBA welterweight title and remain undefeated Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn in a CBS main event. The decision was met with a smattering of boos after the announced crowd of 12,718 had been feted with a highly entertaining battle.

Thurman-Porter-exchange_@ShowtimeBoxing“I want to thank Shawn Porter for a tremendous fight, he’s a great warrior,” Thurman said in the ring afterward of the first CBS primetime boxing event on the network since Ali-Spinks in 1978. “Defense is the key to victory. He smothers his punches a lot and makes it difficult for the judges to score. I was able to rock him with clear, effective blows and I believe that was the difference today. It’s all about defense. I had a great defense today.”



Porter, a former titleholder, came out aggressive in the first, seemingly trying to test Thurman’s fitness and durability after a February car accident left Thurman with neck and back injuries, causing the bout to be pushed back from March 12. Thurman (27-0, 22 knockouts) showed he was up to the test, holding up against Porter’s rugged onslaught while at times showcasing brilliant boxing ability. The two were friends dating back to the amateurs and there were questions if they would be able to put aside their relationship and really try to hurt the other. They did, swinging for the fences all night while never touching gloves unless instructed. It was a close, fun fight, and Porter called for a rematch.

“At the end of the day, I’m blessed,” Porter said. “We worked hard. Keith is a great champion. My dad says to keep your head up. I think I won the fight, but I’m satisfied because the competitor came out tonight. We need that rematch. I know the fans want that rematch. If he gives me another chance, I’m going to work hard in the ring and leave with his title.”

Both worked hard throughout the fight. Thurman landed a clean right midway through the first that got Porter’s respect, and Thurman ended the round moving forward as Porter (26-2-1, 16 KOs) sought to regroup in a brisk opening frame. It was that way for most of the night, with two-way action and both fighters having their moments.

Thurman-on-ropes-Porter_@ShowtimeBoxingPorter pinned Thurman against the ropes in the second and tried to maul him, landing lefts and rights while Thurman did his best to cover up. Two rounds into the fight it became obvious Porter’s game plan: Try to assault the thinner Thurman with shots on his arms, upper torso, back of the head, everywhere.

Thurman got his distance in the third and out-boxed him for most of the round. This time, when Porter got Thurman against the ropes, Thurman landed a clean right hand that seemed to stun Porter.

Thurman wobbled Porter with a left hook in the fourth round and cut Porter over his left eye with another series of power shots. Thurman was boxing beautifully, connecting with sweeping left hooks as Porter rushed in, showing a granite chin as he got touched up.

Porter reasserted himself in the ensuing rounds, continuing to maul Thurman against the ropes as Thurman tried to create distance and use his jab. Porter went down in the seventh but it was from a slip. He got up and continued to impose his will on Thurman, landing a clean right hand that likely stole the round.

Porter hurt Thurman with a left hook to the body in the eighth round; it was the same punch that Thurman’s last opponent, Luis Collazo hurt him with when they fought last July. Thurman recovered to land a pair of left hooks to get back into the round.

An apparent clash of heads opened a cut over Thurman’s right eye in the ninth round as both men exchanged vicious shots in one of the most eventful rounds of the fight. Porter pinned Thurman against the ropes and both opened up with home run shots as the crowd applauded their efforts.

Thurman hurt Porter with a left hook in the 10th round, causing Porter to wheel back, his glove almost touching the canvas; but Porter, again showing a super-human chin, responded with a series of hooks in the corner that seemed to surprise Thurman, who seemed exhausted. It was that kind of fight.

 

 

 

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