Errol Spence Jr. vs. Shawn Porter Live Coverage & Discussion

Welcome to Fightful’s live coverage of Errol Spence Jr. vs. Shawn Porter. Live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Spence and Porter will look to unify their respective welterweight world titles in the main event of a loaded card that includes two other title fights.

We’ll provide live results of every fight on the card, including quick recaps of the prelim fights and round-by-round coverage of the three title bouts. You can join in the discussion on out Disqus board at the bottom of the page.

Below is the main card (9:00 p.m. ET/FOX PPV):

• Errol Spence Jr. defeated Shawn Porter by split decision (116-111 Spence, 115-112 Porter, 116-111 Porter) to unify the IBF and WBC welterweight titles
• David Benavidez defeated Anthony Dirrell by TKO, round 9, 1:39 to win the WBC super middleweight title
• Mario Barrios defeated Batyr Akhmedov by unanimous decision (114-112, 115-111, 116-111) to win the WBA “Regular” junior welterweight title
• Josesito Lopez defeated John Molina Jr. by TKO, round 8, 0:39

Below is the prelim card (7:30 p.m. ET/FS1):

• Robert Guerrero defeated Jerry Thomas by unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 98-92)
• Joey Spencer defeated Travis Gambardella by TKO, round 3, 0:53

Below is the rest of the card (4:15 p.m. ET/Fightful.com):

• Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jesus Zazueta (Swing Bout):
• Burley Brooks defeated Fabian Valdez by KO, round 1
• Jose Valenzuela defeated Charles Clark by KO, round 1
• Misael Rodriguez defeated Brandon Maddox by TKO, round 3
• Fabian Maidana defeated Ramses Agaton by TKO, round 1
• Leon Lawson III defeated Alan Zavala by KO, round 2
• Alfonso Olvera defeated Amon Rashidi by unanimous decision (79-73, 79-73, 78-74)
• Juan Antonio Lopez defeated Fernando Garcia by unanimous decision (77-75, 79-73, 79-73)

PRELIM CARD:

Joey Spencer defeated Travis Gambardella by TKO, round 3, 0:53: Spencer started off guns blazing with a series of big left hooks to the body with the occasional overhead right to Gambardella’s jaw. Spencer dropped Gambardella twice in the first round and once in the second round. Spencer landed a series of shots to start the third round, causing the referee to step in and stop the bout. Spencer improves his record to 9-0 as a pro and will continue to have six to eight round bouts for a long while as he continues to develop.

Robert Guerrero defeated Jerry Thomas by unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 98-92): This fight was much slower-paced than the previous fight between Spencer and Gambardella. Guerrero easily outboxed Thomas throughout the 10 rounds, but did not show any urgency to stop Thomas. The ninth round was really the only round where Thomas was aggressive and truly outworked Guerrero, but didn’t do anything to turn the tide in this fight. This is Guerrero’s third straight win since coming out of retirement.

MAIN CARD:

Josesito Lopez defeated John Molina Jr. by TKO, round 8, 0:39: This fight got off to a very hot start with Lopez scoring two knockdowns in the first round, nearly ending the fight right then and there. Molina managed to recover and even land solid punches every so often, such as a left hand that staggered Lopez late in the fourth round. Even so, Lopez pretty much dominated the fight by constantly landing big punches on Molina, but Molina managed to avoid getting hurt throughout several rounds of the fight. Lopez dropped Molina late in the seventh round, the third time in the bout, but Molina was still firing back at the end of the round. Ringside doctors and Molina’s corner threatened to stop the fight after the seventh round, but Molina managed to persuade all parties that he can continue for one more round. Lopez landed a big right hand to Molina, hurting him one more time in the eighth round, and after Molina was losing an exchange of punches, the referee decided to stop the fight. The action died down a bit after the second round, but the fight as a whole was a solid one. Molina has now dropped two straight fights while Lopez gets his first win since losing a majority decision to Keith Thurman back in January.

Mario Barrios vs. Batyr Akhmedov: Vacant WBA “Regular” junior welterweight title

Round 1: Akhmedov throws a couple of jabs and Barrios throws a couple of right hands in response. Barrios connects with a solid left uppercut in the last minute of the round, but there was not a lot of action in that first round. 

Fightful scored round 1 for Barrios 10-9

Round 2: Akhmedov starts to lunge forward and connect with the right jab, but barely connected on them. Akhmedov attacked the body with a left hand, but just like the first round, neither man has yet to fully let their hands go. Akhmedov’s left hand touched the canvas, but was not ruled a knockdown.

Fightful scored round 2 for Barrios 10-9

Round 3: Barrios connects with a right jab and then a short, right uppercut to the body. Barrios lands a solid combination of punches a minute into the round and Akhmedov is trying everything to land anything that can break down Barrios’ defense. After three rounds, this has become a chess match with no real signs that this fight is turning into a slugfest.

Fightful scored round 3 for Barrios 10-9

Round 4: Barrios connects with a right hand that staggers Akhmedov. Now Barrios is unleashing a flurry of punches that dropped Akhmedov early in the fourth round. Barrios lands a left hook on Akhmedov’s jaw. Akhmedov tries to exchange with Barrios, but the taller Barrios is able to connect more and keep Akhmedov in check. 

Fightful scored round 4 for Barrios 10-8

Round 5: Akhmedov is the aggressor starting this round, but Barrios is able to maneuver his way out of Akhmedov’s combinations. Barrios is counter-punching well moving back, but Akhmedov lands a solid one-two combination upstairs. Barrios connects with a left hook to Akhmedov’s jaw. 

Fightful scored round 5 for Akhmedov 10-9

Round 6: Barrios’ left hand being placed so high up is preventing Akhmedov from successfully landing combinations. Barrios landed a left hook, but Akhmedov is outworking his opponent in the first half of this round. Akhmedov continues to struggle to hurt Barrios, but the two boxers do trade shots throughout the rest of the fight.

Fightful scored round 6 for Akhmedov 10-9

Round 7: The two boxers continue to trade punches as Akhmedov has found a way to fight on the inside and is successfully putting Barrios into a corner. Barrios is cut just over the left eye and Akhmedov is starting to be a little more aggressive. The tide is turning in Akhmedov’s favor.

Fightful scored round 7 for Akhmedov 10-9

Round 8: Barrios lands a left hook, but Akhmedov is unfazed. Barrios is moving erratically around the ring, struggling to find his footing and rhythm as Akhmedov is gaining more confidence as the fight goes on. Akhmedov has outworked Barrios throughout the last few rounds and Barrios is starting to tire out. Akhmedov continues to be aggressive and pin Barrios against the ropes. Akhmedov lands a series of short hooks upstairs. 

Fightful scored round 8 for Akhmedov 10-9

Round 9: Barrios lands a 1-2 combination to start the fight, but Akhmedov continues to outwork and bully Barrios around the ring. Akhmedov is starting to hurt Barrios with a barrage of body punches, followed by a right jab upstairs. Barrios throws two lazy left jabs and Akhmedov connects with a left hook upstairs.

Fightful scored round 9 for Akhmedov 10-9

Round 10: The two trade shots to the body in the center of the ring, but it is Akhmedov who wins the exchange of punches. Akhmedov lands a right jab upstairs and throws another combination to his opponent. Akhmedov then connects with a left hand that sends Barrios tumbling back a bit and Barrios looks exhausted. 

Fightful scored round 10 for Akhmedov 10-9

Round 11: After a spirited pep talk from his team, Akhmedov aggressively throws combinations at Barrios, nearly hurting him with consecutive right-hand punches. Akhmedov lands a solid left hand than sends Barrios back. Akhmedov’s body work continues to hurt Barrios even at this stage of the fight.

Fightful scored round 11 for Akhmedov 10-9

Round 12: Akhmedov and Barrios trade shots across the ring and Akhmedov landed another hook that sends Barrios back. Barrios is fighting back and was momentarily the aggressor. Akhmedov lands a high left-hook to Barrios’ jaw and the taller fighter continues to struggle against Akhmedov’s inside punching. Barrios scores a right-hand knockdown at the end of the fight to get back in a position to win on the scorecard.

Fightful scored round 12 for Barrios 10-8, making it a 113-113 draw

Official Result: Mario Barrios defeated Batyr Akhmedov by unanimous decision (114-112, 115-111, 116-111) to win the WBA “Regular” junior welterweight title

Anthony Dirrell (c) vs. David Benavidez: WBC super middleweight title

Round 1: Dirrell opens up with a couple of jabs as Benavidez studies his opponent. Both men are off to a bit of a slow start in terms of throwing punches. Dirrell throws a 1-2 combination upstairs and continues to throw those combinations as Benavidez leaves his hands up to defend.

Fightful scored round 1 for Dirrell 10-9

Round 2: Dirrell connected with a right hand, but Benavidez is starting to let his punches fly. Benavidez misses with the right jab, but blocks a two-punch combination from Dirrell. Both men clinch. After the clinch, Dirrell lands a straight right upstairs and Benavidez responds with a short right to the body. Benavidez ends the round with a series of punches that forces Dirrell to move back.

Fightful scored round 2 for Benavidez 10-9

Round 3: Benavidez blocks a right hand by Dirrell to start the round. Benavidez is still throwing one, two punches every time he lets his hands go. Dirrell has a bit of a mental lapse and Benavidez takes advantage of hits a jab that staggers Dirrell. Benavidez lands a right hand and Dirrell tried to show that he’s shrugging it off. Both men trade punches two minutes into the round. Benavidez has Dirrell trapped in a corner and throws a short combination to the body. 

Fightful scored round 3 for Benavidez 10-9

Round 4: Dirrell is landing short punches, but Benavidez continues to move forward. Dirrell throws a couple of left jabs that barely connects. Dirrell lands another jab that splits Benavidez’s guard. Dirrell staggers Benavidez with a series of short punches and the two show respect after the round ends.

Fightful scored round 4 for Dirrell 10-9

Round 5: Benavidez lands a couple of body shots that sends Dirrell to the ropes. Benavidez smothers Dirrell with an eight-punch combination, but Dirrell was able to keep his hands up and avoid getting hit hard. Dirrell clinches with Benavidez’s back to the ropes and sneaks in a right hook upstairs. Benavidez manages to land right hook to Dirrell’s jaw as the round ends.

Fightful scored round 5 for Benavidez 10-9

Round 6: Both men continue to throw punches on the inside with Benavidez moving forward. Dirrell lands a couple of jabs stepping back. Dirrell has a cut around his right eye and is bleeding. The action stops as the ringside doctor takes a look at it and the fight continues. For what is left in the round, Dirrell was able to fight back and not let the cut hurt him 

Fightful scored round 6 for Benavidez 10-9

Round 7: Benavidez is throwing the left jab at that cut above Dirrell’s right eye to try and make it worse and force the fight to get stopped. A lot of blood is pouring out of Dirrell’s cut and Dirrell accidentally low blows Benavidez. The action gets stopped once as the cut is starting to get dangerously bad, but Dirrell is allowed to fight some more. Dirrell throws a four-punch combination that forces Benavidez to step back for a second. 

Fightful scored round 7 for Benavidez 10-9

Round 8: Dirrell is checked on by doctors once again as the round begins and Dirrell briefly hurts Benavidez with a series of body punches. Both men continue to trade punches on the inside. Benavidez unleashes a flurry of left hooks to the cut. This was a strange round.

Fightful scored round 8 for Benavidez 10-9

Round 9: Benavidez continues to target the cut with repeated left jabs, but Dirrell is still trying to fight back. Dirrell is moving back and lands a quick jab to the body, but Benavidez is having an easy time landing punches. Dirrell is pinned to the ropes and corner, receiving an incredible amount of punishment until the commission stepped in and stopped the fight. Benavidez is a champion once again.

Official Result: David Benavidez defeated Anthony Dirrell by TKO, round 9, 1:39 to win the WBC super middleweight title

Errol Spence Jr. (IBF champion) vs. Shawn Porter (WBC champion): Unified IBF and WBC welterweight titles

Round 1: Porter throws a couple of quick left jabs, but misses. Spence connects on a left jab to the body. Spence moves back, making Porter missing a couple of jabs. Porter moves forward and throws a three-punch combination that forces Spence to step back. Both men exchange left hooks to the body before they clinch. 

Fightful scored round 1 for Porter 10-9

Round 2: Porter gets a counter left hand on Spence that staggers him for a brief moment. Both men exchange body shots as they clinched. Spence landed a quick jab upstairs and Porter catches Spence off-balance by stepping on his foot. Spence continues to jab and the two clinch once again. Spence landes a big body shot stepping back and Porter continues to push Spence back. 

Fightful scored round 2 for Spence 10-9

Round 3: Spence lands a jab and then a big body shot. The two fighters trade big shots on the inside and are constantly on the verge of wrestling each other to the ground. Spence hits a low blow on Porter, but the two continue to trade punches as the crowd at the Staples Center is ecstatic.

Fightful scored round 3 for Spence 10-9

Round 4: Starting off, Porter throws a few aggressive jabs and is landing combinations to start off. Porter lands a right hook and connecting easily on his shots in the first minute. Spence then unloads on a few body shots and then Porter answers with a combination of his own. Porter connects on yet another combination of punches, but Spence stops Porter’s momentum with a well-timed left hook upstairs.

Fightful scored round 4 for Porter 10-9

Round 5: Spence takes another couple of punches thrown by Porter. Spence lands a left hook upstairs and Porter responds with a body shot in the corner. Spence connects on another left-hand punch. Spence is on the ropes while Porter throws another wild series of punches. Both guys are scoring punches in this round, but Spence has been landing the cleaner shots.

Fightful scored round 5 for Spence 10-9

Round 6: Spence is picking up the pace, landing a clean left hook off the ropes and Porter responds by going to the body. The two champions trade body shots in the center of the ring. Spence misses on a couple of jabs and so does Porter. Lots of scrappy fighting between the two, but they each are landing their fair share of punches.

Fightful scored round 6 for Spence 10-9

Round 7: Spence lands a left body shot and Porter goes to throw several jabs upstairs. Porter goes to the inside and connects on a right uppercut. Spence blocks a left-right combination from Porter. Halfway through the round, Spence throws a body shot as Porter tried to look for a clinch. Spence lands on another left hook and then a right to the body. Porter is fighting off the ropes for a second until they clinch.

Fightful scored round 7 for Porter 10-9

Round 8: Spence connects on a couple of left hands on the inside. Both men clinch after briefly trading body shots. Porter lands on a wide right hand and staggers Spence for a quick moment. Spence comes back and lands on a left hook. 

Fightful scored round 8 for Spence 10-9

Round 9: Spence continues to attack Porter with the left hand, but Porter is moving around the ring, forcing the IBF champion to dig deep and keep chasing. Spence manages to catch Porter off-balance with a left hand and Porter lands a right hand of his own. The action is still hot between these two even after nine rounds.

Fightful scored round 9 for Porter 10-9

Round 10: For 40 uninterrupted seconds, both Spence and Porter threw an incredible amount of punches, not stopping for a break. Porter rocks Spence with a right hook to the body and Porter continues to be aggressive. Spence lands a left hand upstairs to end the round. 

Fightful scored round 10 for Porter 10-9

Round 11: The Staples Center crowd is starting to chant “Porter! Porter! Porter!” as the round begins. Spence has a minor cut, but he and Porter continue to attack the body. Porter attacks the body, but Spence catches Porter and drops him with a big left hook late in the round. 

Fightful scored round 11 for Spence 10-8

Round 12: Porter goes to the body and then lands a left jab upstairs. Porter is swinging for the fences in this final round, but Spence is not willing to cruise by this final round. Spence tags Porter with several right jabs. Porter rocks Spence one more time halfway through the final round and Porter clinches with Spence. The two men exchange punches until the end of the fight.

Fightful scored round 12 for Porter 10-9, making it 114-113 for Spence

Official Result: Errol Spence Jr. defeated Shawn Porter by split decision (116-111 Spence, 115-112 Porter, 116-111 Porter) to unify the IBF and WBC welterweight titles