Kell Brook (33-0, 22 KOs) scored a majority decision victory over Shawn Porter (24-1-1, 15 KOs) to win the IBF Welterweight title at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA.
The 12-round fight was the main event of a triple-header presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Showtime Sports.
Brook, a 28-year-old native of Yorkskire, United Kingdom overcame a relentless Porter by using his footwork, by clinching when necessary and by landing well-timed one-two combinations from the outside.
Porter, a 26-year-old native of Akron, Ohio, could not close the distance enough times to land power punches on Brook.
The fight was close as the rounds progressed, but it slipped away from Porter in the the later rounds as his aggression became increasingly ineffective.
In the early rounds, Porter began aggressively and worked the body, keeping Brook on his back foot.
Brook was cut in round two above his left eye by a clash of heads, but not without landing consecutive right hands on Porter.
Porter’s aggression really began to work in his favor in the middle rounds, but the fight was tough to score as one would have to choose whether Porter’s aggression or Brook’s ring generalship deserved the nod on the scorecards.
By the final rounds, however, a tired Porter began working more on the outside, perhaps dissuaded by his inability to land cleanly on Brook, which was partly caused by his failing to close the distance well and by Brook’s clinching.
The final three rounds saw Brook landing combinations on the outside while a clearly befuddled Porter had no more answers for him.
Judge Dave Parris scored the bout a 114-114 draw, while Max Deluca scored it 111-117 and Adalaide Byrd 112-116 for Brook. RBR Boxing scored it 115-113 for Brook.
Brook will now celebrate his title win and look towards bigger matchups, possibly in the UK against Amir Khan.
. @SpecialKBrook – “I think @AmirKingKhan can get in the queue now. Everyone knows I’m top dog in England now.”
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) August 17, 2014
For Porter, he must deal with the first loss of his career and decided whether or not he wants an immediate rematch.
. @ShowtimeShawnP – “He took my belt tonight. I want the rematch. I don’t care where we have to go to get it done.”
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) August 17, 2014