Unification fights are always interesting. In the good old days we only had one champion not four or five! Saturday at Staple Center in L.A. IBF World Welter champ Errol “The Truth” Spence, Jr. puts his unbeaten record on the line taking on WBC World champ Shawn “Showtime” Porter in a TGB Promotions – Tom Brown event.
The southpaw Spence at 25-0 (21), of Desoto, TX, may be a slight favorite against Porter, 30-2-1 (17), of Las Vegas, NV, in this 12 round bout. The officials have already been posted on www.boxrec.com with Jack Reiss being the referee and the three judges are Rey Danseco of the Philippines and CA, Larry Hazzard, Jr., and Steve Weisfeld both of NJ.
Spence won the title back in May of 2017 knocking out the UK’s Kell Brook and defending his title three times. In January of 2018 he stopped Lamont “Havoc” Peterson, the former WBA/IBF Light Welter and WBA Welter champ. In June he knocked out Mexico’s unbeaten Carlos “Chema” Ocampo in the first round. In March of 2019 he shut out undefeated four-division champ Mikey Garcia.
Porter won the IBF title back in December of 2013 defeating Devon “Alexander the Great” Alexander. In April of 2014 he stopped Paulie “Majic Man” Malignaggi but lost his title to Kell Brook by majority decision. Brook being stopped by Spence was their one common opponent in championship fights. In June of 2015 he defeated four-division champ Adrien “The Problem” Broner earning a WBA title fight losing to Keith “One Time” Thurman.
Two wins for Porter over two former champions Andre Berto by stoppage in April of 2017 and Danny “Swift” Garcia by decision in September of 2018 for the vacant WBC World title followed. In March of 2019 he won a split decision over Yordenis “54 Milagros” Ugas.
The undercard will have WBC World Super Middle champ Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell, 33-1-1 (24), of Flint, MI, defending against David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez, 21-0 (18), of Phoenix, AZ. Dirrell won his tile back in August of 2014, then lost it in April of 2015. He regained it in February of 2019 defeating Avni “Mr Robot” Yildirim.
In another world title fight Mario “El Azteca” Barrios, 24-0 (16), of San Antonio, TX, and Batyr “Batuhan Gozgec, 7-0 (6), of UZB and Crimea, Russia battle it out for the vacant WBA World Super Lightweight title.