SPENCE WINS OVER PORTER IN A POTENTIAL FIGHT OF THE YEAR
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 29 Sep 2019
Errol Spence, Jr. (26-0, 21 KOs) defended his IBF welterweight title for the fourth time and won the WBC 147-pound belt from Porter (30-3-1, 17 KOs). The unification match was an action-packed, give-and-take, back-and-forth fight that received a standing ovation from the fans until the final bell.
* * *
Two judges scored the fight for Spence. California?s Rey Danesco had it 116-111 and New Jersey?s Steve Weisfeld saw it the same at 116-111. The third judge New Jersey?s Larry Hazzard Jr. favored Porter 115-112.
* * *
Spence is still unbeaten professionally, and is still undefeated in five world title fights. Porter has now three losses in world title bouts, as he is now 4-3 in championship fights. ?Shawn Porter is a rough and awkward fighter,? said Spence. ?I didn?t get off what I wanted to. He?s a true champion. He made it tough.?
* * *
Spence edged Porter slightly 745 to 744 in punches thrown and 221 to 172 in punches landed. Spence landed 44% of his power punches to 25% for Porter. 113 of Spence?s 221 landed punches were to the body of Porter. Porter averaged 77 punches thrown in rounds 10 and 11 to Spence's 64.
* * *
At the opening round, Porter unleashed several blows to the body with Spence leaning against the ropes. Spence started coming forward and connected a right hook to the body of Porter. In the second round, Spence connected a straight left hand as Porter retaliated with several shots. Spence also landed a hard body punch.
* * *
Both fighters fearlessly traded punches and the referee warned Spence for hitting low punches in the third. The fourth stanza saw Porter delivering a flurry of punches that pressured Spence to put on a defensive stance. Porter delivered a left hook breaking Spence?s guard, then threw another combination with Spence covering himself.
* * *
The fifth round saw Porter receiving a straight left to the body from Spence, followed by another. Then Porter countered with a right uppercut that landed to the body of Spence. In the sixth, both fighters swapped body punches. Porter hurled more blows as Spence tried to hold. Spence in return connected a counter left hand.
* * *
Porter hit hard body shots as he attacked Spence on the ropes in the seventh. Then Porter got his act as he danced around the ring occasionally throwing a few jabs that found their way on Spence?s face. In the eighth round, Porter tossed several shots then delivered a counter right to the head. Another right hand landed on the top of Spence from Porter. Spence landed his own right hand right before the bell sounded.
* * *
The ninth round had both fighters exchanging hooks as Spence connected a hard left hook. Porter threw his own hooks and they traded body punches. In the tenth stage, Spence hit Porter with two body blows followed by a counter right hand. Porter threw back his own punches as Spence countered with his own.
* * *
Spence heated up his attack and landed a right hook in the eleventh. He followed this with stinging jabs. Then Spence hit Porter with a booming left hook that dropped him. Porter got up and said "Let?s Go!" In the final round, Spence landed a left hand but Porter delivered back a heavy right hand. Both fighters exchanged blows but Spence unleashed two hard punches as Porter tried to strike back. Both fighters went toe-to-toe which excited the fans to stand on their feet cheering till the end.
* * *
Several experts saw it as a fight-of-the-year candidate which excited the 16,072 fans at the Staples Center. ?He?s a strong kid,? Porter said. ?We both came in to do the job. I think I had a little more than what he expected, but he handled it. Congratulations to him and his team. We?re proud of what we did.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
Wed, 11 Feb 2026Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
Wed, 11 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Wed, 11 Feb 2026IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 11 Feb 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Wed, 11 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
By Eric Armit, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
Tue, 10 Feb 202619-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
Tue, 10 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Women's Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Tue, 10 Feb 2026