SHAWN PORTER EDGES DANNY GARCIA FOR WBC WELTERWEIGHT BELT
After a four-year journey, Shawn Porter became a world champion once again.
The former IBF welterweight world champion won a belt for the first time at Barclays Center back in December 2013, only to lose it the following year to Kell Brook. Since then, he's battled his way back into to the championship mix. He beat four-division champion Adrien Broner and former WBC and IBF welterweight champion Andre Berto.
In between, he made his return to Barclays Center for his first shot at regaining a title, dropping a narrow decision to Keith Thurman in one of 2016's most-celebrated fights.
It took two years after that Thurman fight for Porter to get another well-earned title shot, taking on Danny Garcia for the vacant WBC belt that Garcia lost to Thurman 18 months earlier. Back at Barclays Center for his fourth straight fight, Porter triumphed in a hard-edged battle to claim the title.
"This title means a lot to me," said Porter of the WBC belt. "It means a lot to boxing. It means a lot to history and I wanted to become a part of that."
Porter took the unanimous decision 115-113 on two cards and 116-112 on the third. He fought with his familiar hard-driving style, throwing 270 more punches than Garcia and therefore landing 12 more, though Garcia connected at a much higher rate, 36% to 24%.
"I knew he was going to be accurate," said Porter. "The game plan for me was to be accurate from the outside, show that I could win and beat him without roughing him up and getting him on the ropes the entire time. We studied very well for him. We were ready for his hook and his wild right hands. He did a great job tonight."
"He was throwing a lot, but it was a lot on the inside," said Garcia. "I had my defense tight, so it wasn't effective. I thought I landed more cleaner shots and I thought I won this fight."
Neither fighter has ever lost a non-championship fight. They staged a tight, evenly-matched battle worthy of two of the world's best welterweights.
"I made a prediction I wanted to live up to," said Porter. "I said I wasn't leaving New York without this belt. I ain't leaving New York without this belt. God bless y'all. Thanks for coming."
Yordenis Ugas dominated Cesar Barrionuevo in a unanimous decision to remain unbeaten in eight fights as a welterweight and become the mandatory challenger to Porter's WBC belt.
Heavyweight Adam Kownacki won a tight unanimous decision over former IBF champion Charles Martin, 96-94 on all three cards, to remain undefeated. Kownacki controlled the fight early before Martin came on late to play his part in an entertaining slugfest over the later rounds.
History was made as Brooklyn's Amanda Serrano won a world championship in her sixth different division with a unanimous decision over Yamila Esher Reynoso for the WBO junior welterweight belt.
Two rising Brooklyn fighters, junior lightweight Chris Colbert and junior welterweight Richardson Hitchins, remained undefeated with unanimous decision wins.
The former IBF welterweight world champion won a belt for the first time at Barclays Center back in December 2013, only to lose it the following year to Kell Brook. Since then, he's battled his way back into to the championship mix. He beat four-division champion Adrien Broner and former WBC and IBF welterweight champion Andre Berto.
In between, he made his return to Barclays Center for his first shot at regaining a title, dropping a narrow decision to Keith Thurman in one of 2016's most-celebrated fights.
It took two years after that Thurman fight for Porter to get another well-earned title shot, taking on Danny Garcia for the vacant WBC belt that Garcia lost to Thurman 18 months earlier. Back at Barclays Center for his fourth straight fight, Porter triumphed in a hard-edged battle to claim the title.
"This title means a lot to me," said Porter of the WBC belt. "It means a lot to boxing. It means a lot to history and I wanted to become a part of that."
Porter took the unanimous decision 115-113 on two cards and 116-112 on the third. He fought with his familiar hard-driving style, throwing 270 more punches than Garcia and therefore landing 12 more, though Garcia connected at a much higher rate, 36% to 24%.
"I knew he was going to be accurate," said Porter. "The game plan for me was to be accurate from the outside, show that I could win and beat him without roughing him up and getting him on the ropes the entire time. We studied very well for him. We were ready for his hook and his wild right hands. He did a great job tonight."
"He was throwing a lot, but it was a lot on the inside," said Garcia. "I had my defense tight, so it wasn't effective. I thought I landed more cleaner shots and I thought I won this fight."
Neither fighter has ever lost a non-championship fight. They staged a tight, evenly-matched battle worthy of two of the world's best welterweights.
"I made a prediction I wanted to live up to," said Porter. "I said I wasn't leaving New York without this belt. I ain't leaving New York without this belt. God bless y'all. Thanks for coming."
Yordenis Ugas dominated Cesar Barrionuevo in a unanimous decision to remain unbeaten in eight fights as a welterweight and become the mandatory challenger to Porter's WBC belt.
Heavyweight Adam Kownacki won a tight unanimous decision over former IBF champion Charles Martin, 96-94 on all three cards, to remain undefeated. Kownacki controlled the fight early before Martin came on late to play his part in an entertaining slugfest over the later rounds.
History was made as Brooklyn's Amanda Serrano won a world championship in her sixth different division with a unanimous decision over Yamila Esher Reynoso for the WBO junior welterweight belt.
Two rising Brooklyn fighters, junior lightweight Chris Colbert and junior welterweight Richardson Hitchins, remained undefeated with unanimous decision wins.