Boxing was treated to a fight of the year contender at the Staples centre, LA, as Errol Spence Jr and Shawn Porter went toe for toe, for a full 12 rounds in their unification bout for the IBF and WBC world welterweight titles.
The fight had the makings of a classic judging by the build up with both fighters trading verbal jabs every chance they got.
Throughout the press conferences, both were predicting a knockout and to punish their opponent, even in the trash talking, no fighter wanted to take a back step, or rather, let the other get the better of them or have the last word.
Although the build up was highly entertaining which caused everyone rub their hands in anticipation for the fight, you would have been excused if you were still sceptical, as we have been here many times in the past.
We have seen fights which had similar build ups which were potential classics, where fighters were trading verbal blows and promising to not take a back step and come out swinging.
However, too often in these fights, the build up proved to be the most exciting thing and fight itself flatters to deceive.
With the pressure of losing getting to both, making for a stalemate in the ring.
I am happy to say that wasn’t the case for this fight. It promised a lot and delivered even more.
Shawn Porter came into the ring looking relaxed and confident, Errol Spence walked in looking slightly tense if I am honest. The fight started very cagey with Porter’s rough and tough, walk forward, orthodox style against Spence Jr’s measured, stalking southpaw style.
There was not much in the first two rounds where both were jostling for position and trying to get the upper hand. I felt Spence Jr did just the better edging forward and timing his shots. But Porter was making it a fight and it was hotting up nicely.
Moving into the third, Porter was getting reckless but moving forward, Spence Jr was on the back foot and I felt got away with a few low blows, the fight was getting rough and the ref really had his work cut out.
The fourth round saw Porter again moving forward with some lovely bodywork, Spence Jr looked troubled but had his successes and ended the round well.
Four rounds in and the crowed were already on the edge of their seats, they knew they were witnessing a real dog fight.
I had the fight 3-1 to Spence Jr going into the fifth. However, rounds five, six and seven were for me, all Porter rounds, although they were back and fourth.
Porter started to pick up the pace and move forward to unsettle Spence Jr. However, Spence Jr was fighting well on the back foot, but looked more troubled then I have ever seen him and was hesitating.
Porter was forcing him to fight and Spence Jr had to really dig deep to keep him at bay and force his will.
Porter really surprised me, he really pushed the pace and even when Spence Jr was catching him on the back foot with some measured shots.
Porter was the one moving forward and forcing Spence Jr to fight his fight, it was great for the neutral as it was turning into an all out brawl.
Going into the eight round I had Porter up 4-3. However, Spence Jr had other ideas and it was typical of this fight that just when you thought one fighter was getting the upper hand, the other comes back.
Spence Jr connected with some shots to the body then mixed it to the head to take the round, although both were trading blows towards the end.
In the ninth, it was again typically back and forth with both fighters trading shots to head and body. At one stage, they stood toe to toe trading heavy blows.
The round was close and it was very hard to judge.
In the tenth they picked up where they left off in the ninth, standing toe to toe and trading blows. Just when you thought Porter was getting the upper hand, Spence Jr would fire back. It really depended on what you preferred, in how you judged those rounds but I split them and gave one each.
So going into the eleventh, I had it dead level, five rounds a piece. Both went straight back to work from the bell, firing shots, neither wanting to take a back step.
Porter started to push forward and back Spence Jr up on the ropes. Spence Jr then backed up Porter and they again went to work, both trying to get the upper hand.
They again exchanged heavy blows and this was the moment that changed the fight.
Spence Jr caught Porter with a sweet left hook that rocked Porter, causing him to touch down and take a count.
It felt pivotal, Porter did well to take the shot, normally that would have laid out many, but Porter’s will to will was immense, even while taking the count he was barking at Spence Jr, who now looked confident.
Spence Jr looking physically lifted and went in for the kill, the round closed with both typically trading blows but with Spence Jr on top, however, Porter was still looking to trade back in an epic round.
You could see Spence Jr was lifted as they went into the final round and he looked determined. He finished the fight on the front foot looking for the stoppage.
To his credit, Porter was still making it a fight and turned Spence on the ropes for the umpteenth time, but Spence Jr took the round on the front foot to close out the show impressively.
At the end of the fight the crowd were on their feet showing their appreciation for what they had just witnessed.
Both fighters should be given massive credit for an absolute classic, easily a fight of the year contender. The knockdown proved pivotal in the end as I had Spence winning 7-5 rounds, 115-112 including a 10-8 round in the 11th.
I was surprised to hear it was a split decision, with one judge giving it to Porter via a 116-111 scorecard, which I found a bit perplexing, although it was an extremely tight affair.
However, he was overruled by the other two judges who scored it 115-112 & 116-111, making Errol Spence Jr the new unified IBF & WBC welterweight champion.
I can sit here and talk about what is next for both fighters, including Danny Garcia coming in the ring to declare that he is next for Spence Jr, but this was about the spectacle and classic that was Spence Jr v Porter.
Both fighters should hold their heads up high for giving the boxing fans an absolute throwback classic.
I certainly didn’t expect such an epic encounter. Porter showed he can still mix it with the best, he pushed one of the top pound for pound fighters to the absolute limit and even in defeat his stock has risen.
Spence Jr showed he can brawl and fight dirty, as well as box, he proved he can take being rough up in the ring and come back with his own to win a fight.
Although they both showed respect at the end of the fight after engaging in a 12 round war.
In the post fight press conference, they were back trading verbal blows, this time about PPV buys and who was the most marketable fighter.
It seems styles really do make fights and these two are a match made in boxing verbal & physical heaven. Anyone for Spence Jr v Porter 2?
