If you didn?t see Errol Spence Jr?s thrilling split-decision victory over Shawn Porter on Saturday night, you missed what might have been the Fight of the Year in 2019, and one of the best welterweight battles in a long time. Spence came in as the IBF champion, and his victory claimed Porter?s WBC title.
Here?s how the boxing community reacted to Spence?s victory:
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Rarely will you see such unanimous praise for any brand of entertainment, especially from boxing fans who can have such divided opinions. Clearly, Spence-Porter was the event to have watched on Saturday night in sports.
Despite coming into the fight as a huge underdog, Porter?s grit, awkwardness, toughness and strength provided Spence the most stringent test of his boxing career. Porter?s pressure was a major issue, and he even dazed Spence on a few occasions. However, Spence did land more clean shots, namely the left hook in the 11th round that changed the evening, and cemented The Truth?s victory.
The punch that dropped Porter would have knocked out 99% of the fighters in the sport. Porter is clearly a member of the 1%. It appeared he has a superhuman chin and stamina. The shot dazed Porter badly for a few seconds, and while the knockdown was legit, the punch only put him to a knee momentarily. Seconds later, he was cleare-eyed and barely wobbly while yelling ?let?s go,? in Spence?s direction.
After watching Porter regain his wherewithal from the hellacious shot, I?m convinced Porter should change his nickname to Wolverine. His recuperative powers are on another level.
Errol Spence Jr. v Shawn Porter LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Erroll Spence Jr (black/white trunks) and Shawn Porter (white/gold … [+]GETTY IMAGES Spence deserves a ton of credit for controlling Porter and delivering a clutch punch that led to the biggest win of his career. Spence won fighting Porter?s brawling style, which was ill-advised, but there is value in finding an alternative route to success.
Porter?s Stock Is Way Up
Errol Spence Jr. v Shawn Porter LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Erroll Spence Jr (black/white trunks) and Shawn Porter (white/gold … [+]GETTY IMAGES I?m not sure it?s possible for a legitimate world champion to lose his title, and to have his stock rise as much as Porter?s did after this fight. Porter emerges for the better in every way imaginable?sans the title.
He pushed the pace in a PPV fight that was worth every penny from an action standpoint. Porter also nearly defeated one of the best fighters in the world, and he showed the kind of toughness that makes fight fans tweet the hashtag #respect. When you combine this performance with his positive presence on FOX/PBC?s fight coverage, Porter?s marketability has taken a significant leap.
Spence?s Stock is Slightly Up
Errol Spence Jr. v Shawn Porter LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Referee Jack Reiss in in the ring with Erroll Spence Jr. after he … [+]GETTY IMAGES While it was great to see Spence stand firm and to come up with a hard-fought victory over a tough opponent and less-than-ideal stylistic matchup, the fact remains he struggled a bit against a fighter he was favored to beat by a wide margin.
Spence is the unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion, but I?m not sure he comes out of Saturday night with a significantly shinier reputation. The boxing community knows that he?s one of the best in the world, but Saturday?s performance may have helped people believe he?s beatable.
