Five welterweight title fights headlined pay-per-view events in 2019, but the one between Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter may have been the best one of them all.
Spence and Porter battled to an exciting 12-round classic with Spence narrowly coming out on top on the scorecards. Spence unified the IBF and WBC welterweight titles with a split decision win after two judges scored it 116-111 in favor of Spence with the lone judge handing out a 115-112 scorecard for Porter. Fightful had it 114-113 in favor of Spence on its live coverage page.
The fight was an all-action brawl that had both men viciously attack the body throughout the fight. The two champions continued maul each other and both were hurt and stunned at various points in the bout. But it was Spence who scored a big left hook late in the 11th round which dropped Porter to the canvas.
It's raining hands at Staples! --
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) September 29, 2019
BUY #SpencePorter NOW https://t.co/5Hmd7crh2X pic.twitter.com/EvbqtgWF8c
OHHH!!! @ShowtimeShawnP lands a huge left hand as the action is picking up in Round 4!
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) September 29, 2019
BUY #SpencePorter NOW https://t.co/5Hmd7crh2X pic.twitter.com/JPQmPSkaUv
Are you not entertained!? Spence Jr and Porter are trading BIG shots as we are heading into the final few rounds --
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) September 29, 2019
BUY #SpencePorter NOW https://t.co/5Hmd7crh2X pic.twitter.com/1RICRbk8mD
What. A. Punch. --@ErrolSpenceJr knocked down Porter in the 11th with this HUGE left hook to the chin en route to a split decision victory! #SpencePorter pic.twitter.com/41blsioONV
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) September 29, 2019
Despite the knockdown, Porter battled back in the final round and hurt Spence midway through the round. The fight ended with the two men trading blows as the crowd at the Staples Center was on its feet, giving both fighters a standing ovation.
After the fight, former welterweight champion Danny Garcia hopped into the ring and a brief chat with Spence, issuing a challenge to the newly-minted unified champion. Garcia suffered a close decision loss to Porter back in September 2018 with the WBC title at stake.
Spence has now successfully defended his IBF title four times ever since stopping Kell Brook in the United Kingdom back in 2017. This is Spence's second pay-per-view main event this year with the first one being a dominant win over Mikey Garcia back in March.
Fightful's post-show podcast dissecting the entire Spence vs. Porter pay-per-view can be seen at this link.
