Broner vs Porter wasn’t the classic most fight fans had been hoping for. But it certainly changed the boxing landscape. Shawn Porter landed a Unanimous Decision over Adrien Broner at the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas tonight, with scores coming in at 114-112, 115-111, 118-108. BoxingBase.com had it 114-112.
It seems that Broner’s alias ‘The Problem’ is need of a slight alteration. For the most part of tonight, Porter played the much more obvious problem – and one that Broner didn’t seem too keen on solving.
Porter, 27, didn’t come anywhere near to beating his foe up in Marcos Maidana fashion, but his busy, charging-style did play its part in dominating. Call Porter crude all you want, but the guy comes to win. He fights hard and for every second inside that squared circle.
And it’s that grit and determination that has brought Porter (26-1, 16 KO) a long way. Both Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi came unstuck against the rugged, iron-willed fighter.
As for Broner, 25, it’s hard to say what is going on with the guy. It seemed like he was more than capable of taking apart a less-refined fighter like Porter.
Broner (30-2, 22 KO) showcased some eye-catching counters in the middle rounds and even scored a knockdown in the 12th. But apart from that, he seemed to have no hunger to win tonight. Broner also seemed to tire quickly, and hold Porter at just about every opportunity. So much so that he was deducted a point in the 11th round.
It’s not harsh to say that this is the worst performance of his professional career. And in such a pivotal fight, you wonder whether his talent is starting to go to waste in the sport.
So now the speculation and questions begin. Did Broner under-prepare for this encounter? Is he a victim of his own ego and hype? And did all those lucrative paydays perhaps come a little too quickly?
One thing we do know is that Broner is on the way down, and Porter on the rise. Stranger things have happened in boxing.
Broner vs Porter: Round by Round
Round 1: Tentative opening minute, few punches thrown. Missing hooks thrown by Broner. Porter chases his man, unloads assault, lands stiff straight-left. Broner jabbing, looking a little unstuck here. Porter, 10-9
Round 2: Broner ties up Porter as he comes in. Broner misses with left-counter. Porter closes distance, getting physical but not landing. Jab to body from Porter. Broner lands left-hook. Porter right-hand over top to the temple. Broner ties up Porter on ropes. Broner coming into fight, but Porter edges round. Porter, 10-9 (20-18)
Round 3: Porter looks to come forward, tied up again. Things getting messy during clinches. Porter misses with leaping left-hook. Broner not finding rhythm, looking like the weaker of the two. Needs to start setting pace and asserting himself more. Porter, 10-9 (30-27)
Round 4: Broner slips, no knockdown ruled. Porter thinks he has him hurt, goes in with heavy shots! Broner rides it out, but looks uncomfortable, out-muscled. A lot of holding from Broner. Referee warns him for forearm use. Porter works body on rope-bound Broner. Where is Broner in this fight? Porter, 10-9 (40-36)
Round 5: Porter jab finds target. Broner lands left-hook, looking to counter-punch. Lightning one-two from Broner. Left-hook counter from Broner. Better stuff. Porter charges in, Broner ties up. Broner straight-right. Porter chases his man, can’t find him. Broner’s best round. Broner, 10-9 (49-46)
Round 6: Broner looking sharper, busier now. Porter responds by roughing Broner up. Porter tries setting up with jab, but comes off short. Broner hard jab. Broner right-counter over the top. Broner enjoys the better moments and shots of round. Creeping back on our card. Broner, 10-9 (56-58)
Round 7: Broner left-hook. Right-hand. Porter charges in with swarming attack, lands little. Broner uppercut. Broner warned for hitting with back of glove following a clinch. Porter starting to look less effective now. Could Broner be about to turn this fight around? Broner, 10-9 (67-66)
Round 8: Broner jabs an engaging Porter. Porter starting to look crude, paling against Broner’s more refined, accurate work. Broner straight-right. Body attack from Porter. Broner’s work-rate reducing. Porter only finding success to body close range. Broner counters charging Porter. Hard round to score. Cleaner work from Broner, busier work from Porter. Broner, 10-9 (76-76)
Round 9: Porter jab, left-hook. Porter tied up again as he rushes in. Referee yet again warns Broner for holding. Porter steamrolls in, but lands little of note. Misses with wild right-hand. Chases Broner, tied up again. Broner on his bike following another Porter charge. Porter looking pedestrian here, but Broner doing nothing. Not enough to win round. Porter, 10-9 (86-85)
Round 10: Broner really needs to bag the next three rounds. Porter right-hand connects hard. Porter tied up. Both land jabs. Broner on his bike. Porter big body attack. It seems Broner talked a significantly better fight than he is delivering. Broner suffering from fatigue? Broner holds and then lowers himself to the floor. Boos fill arena at bell. Porter, 10-9 (96-94)
Round 11: Broner needs a knockout. There’s no way a judge could have him ahead here. Broner back-peddling a lot. No urgency in his performance. Porter tries to catch his man, but seems unable. Frustrating stuff. Broner all defense now. Boos bellow from crowd. Broner looks up at clock. Porter charges in, tied up yet again! Referee finally takes a point off Broner. Stiff Porter jab. Porter, 10-8 (106-102)
Round 12: Totally bizarre performance from Broner. You wonder how hard he trained for this bout. Broner knocks down Porter hard with left-hook! Porter ties up now! Broner lands a grazing left-hook. Porter still hurt, but can a tired Broner finish him? Both men get tied up. Pair throw caution to the wind in final 10 seconds. And we go to the scorecards… Broner, 10-8 (114-112)
Result: 114-112, 115-111, 118-108, Porter (Unanimous Decision)
BoxingBase.com Scorecard: 114-112, Porter
Broner vs Porter: Undercard
Welterweight Errol Spence Jr (17-0, 14 KO) scored a 3rd round stoppage of Philip Lo Greco (26-2-1, 14 KO) at the 1:50 mark. Philip Lo Groco was a late notice stand-in opponent who signed for the fight at two day’s notice.
Junior Middleweight Terrell Gausha (15-0, 8 KO) landed a Unanimous Decision over Luis Grajeda (18-5-2, 14 KO). Scorecards read 78-73, 79-72 (twice) following the 8-rounder, which took into account a 3rd round knockdown.
Finally, Kevin Newman won a Unanimous Decision over Bobby McIntyre, and Sanjarbek Rakhmanov stopped Brett Simmons in the 1st round.
Let us know your thoughts on Broner vs Porter in the comments below!
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