BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Known for his mauling style that is often called dirty, Shawn Porter spent the past few months predicting he would show Danny Garcia something he had never seen before.
In a battle of former 147-pound champions, Porter did just that on Saturday by mixing an awkward storm of boxing and brawling to edge Garcia in a thrilling unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBC welterweight title in front of 15,038 fans at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Porter (29-2-1, 17 KOs), 30, targeted Garcia's body throughout and used constant feints to freeze and confuse his opponent in a classic example of high-speed chess that produced a standing ovation from the crowd. He took home judges' scores of 116-112 and 115-113 (twice). CBS Sports also had it 115-113 for Porter.
"I tell people all the time, 'I don't make predictions,'" Porter said after the fight. "I made a prediction and a hard one to live up to. I said I wasn't leaving New York without this belt, and I'm not leaving New York without this belt."
Both fighters had entered the bout having lost hard-fought decisions to current WBA champion Keith Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) over the past two years. But Thurman, who hasn't fought since edging Garcia by split decision 17 months ago, was stripped of his WBC title due to inactivity following shoulder surgery.
Thurman was booed throughout the night when he was shown on the big screen above the arena. IBF champion Errol Spence Jr. (24-0, 21 KOs), however, was showered with cheers including after the fight when he entered the ring to congratulate Porter and hype up the potential of a must-see unification bout between the two in 2019.
"The same way that you called Danny out, I'm going to call you out," Spence told Porter, referencing Porter's interruption of Garcia following his February knockout of Brandon Rios that put the wheels in motion for Saturday's fight.
"Do I look worried?" Porter responded rhetorically.
Respect box? Subscribe to my podcast -- In This Corner with Brian Campbell -- where we take an in-depth look at the world of boxing each week.
Garcia (34-2, 20 KOs) controlled the early rounds with clean and hard counter shots as Porter began in an uncharacteristically passive style by not using his jab and circling from the outside. But once Porter made an adjustment in Round 4 and began to vary his style, the more he began to make Garcia think and lower his output.
"I knew he was going to be accurate," Porter said. "The game plan for me was to be accurate from the outside and show we could beat him without roughing him up on the ropes. He tried to out hustle me, mostly at the end of rounds. He did a tremendous job."
Porter outlanded Garcia 180-168, according to CompuBox, while Garcia held a 139-134 advantage in power shots in a 12-round fight that ultimately could've gone either way.
"I thought I did enough to win," Garcia said. "It was a close fight. The judges didn't give it to me. I busted my head on the inside, plus a couple headbutts on my nose. It is what it is, this is boxing. I have to sit back, relax and see what's next for me."
The majority of the late rounds were as close as they were fun as both fighters let it all hang out and traded heavy blows in the center of the ring. In many ways, the fight was reminiscent to the style, ebbs and flow of Shane Mosley's victory over Oscar De La Hoya in their epic 2000 welterweight title bout.
Porter closed in style by dominating the final round and mauling Garcia, edging him on all three scorecards.
"There was some things missing tonight and those aren't going to be there in the next one," Porter said. "It wasn't' necessarily about making it wild. My dad [trainer Kenny Porter] wanted me to stay consistent with the body work and stay consistent with the pressure."
Before Saturday, Porter last held a welterweight title in 2014 until he lost it to Kell Brook. It was Spence who stopped Brook in 2017 to win his first world title. Now, Spence looks forward to proving himself against Porter.
"I think I'm the best welterweight in the division," Spence said. "I'm the truth, and I guarantee you I come home as unified champion. I definitely want that fight against Porter.
"It was a good fight. Shawn looked like himself. I didn't see anything different in his style so we should combine to make an incredible fight. I'm ready for whoever's next: Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter or Keith Thurman. I want any and all of them."
Campbell's Garcia vs. Porter scorecard
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 Total Garcia 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 9 9 113 Porter 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 10 10 115
Garcia vs. Porter live coverage
CBS Sports was with you for every punch from the bout in Brooklyn. If you are unable to view those updates and highlights, please click here.
Thanks for stopping by.
The vacant WBC world welterweight championship will be on the line Saturday night in Brooklyn as Shawn Porter (28-2-1, 17 KOs) takes on former titleholder Danny Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs). Both fighters share a common loss to the man who reigned as WBC champion in Keith Thurman, but now the two will battle for his vacated title after he suffered another injury.
Respect box? Subscribe to my podcast -- In This Corner with Brian Campbell -- where we take an in-depth look at the world of boxing each week.
Saturday night, Garcia will have a chance to earn the title back he lost over a year ago if he can fend off the efforts of Porter. The winner is also looking at a potential matchup with current IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence later on this year.
Garcia vs. Porter main card viewing info
Date: Saturday, Sept. 8
Time: 9 p.m. ET | Location: Barclays Center -- Brooklyn, New York
Live stream: Sho.com | TV channel: Showtime (check local listings)
Garcia vs. Porter main card, odds
Former champion Shawn Porter defeated Danny Garcia by unanimous decision late Saturday to win the vacant World Boxing Council welterweight title.
The 30-year-old won on all three judges scorecards as he threw more punches overall, but Garcia made it razor close by landing a higher percentage of punches at the Barclays Center arena in New York.
It turned out to be a terrific 12-round, 147-pound slugfest as two judges had it 115-113 while the other scored it 116-112.
Porter solidified his position as being one of the best welterweights in boxing’s deepest division.
He is hoping this victory lands him a chance to avenge a loss to unbeaten Keith Thurman, or a unification fight with Errol Spence.
Porter bulled his way through the fight, coming straight ahead and smothering Garcia with jabs and body shots to improve his record in front of the crowd of 13,000.
Garcia made his made his mark in the division with brilliant counterpunching skills, but he also had his left hook working well against the fellow American as the two traded rounds throughout most of the fight.
Garcia suffered just the third loss of his career.
In 2016, he beat Robert Guerrero for the WBC welterweight crown but lost it last year to Thurman in a split decision at Barclays Center. Garcia last fought in February, stopping Brandon Rios.
Thurman needed right elbow surgery after beating Garcia, and suffered a bruised left hand last March in training for his next fight.
He vacated the WBC crown in April, setting the stage for Garcia to face Porter with the winner a possible next foe for Thurman, 28-0 with 22 knockouts.
Garcia disagreed with the outcome.
“He was throwing a lot,” said Garcia, who falls to 7-2 in world title fights. “I had my defense tight, so I wasn’t feeling his punches. I thought I landed the clearer shots and won this fight.
“I have to sit back, relax and see what’s next for me.”
NEW YORK — Prior to their highly anticipated welterweight clash, Shawn Porter vowed to bring the fight to Danny Garcia. After all, he has done that to opponents throughout his career as a master in the art of aggression.
"Showtime" didn't disappoint this time, either. Judges ruled Saturday's bout unanimously in his favor by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113, giving Porter the vacant WBC welterweight championship before 13,058 fans at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
DAZN: There’s a new way to watch fight sports — find out more
Porter was flat-out the aggressor, mauling Garcia at will and never truly letting his opponent counterpunch from a place of comfort.
“I tell people all the time (that) I don’t make predictions," Porter said after the bout. "I made a prediction (this time), and a hard one to live up to. I said I wasn’t leaving New York without this belt and I’m not leaving New York without this belt."
Now, it seems as though Porter is destined for another prize. While he was celebrating his victory, undefeated Errol Spence Jr. stepped into the ring, essentially giving Porter a taste of his own medicine by calling him out. Remember, Porter interrupted Garcia's postfight celebration earlier in the year, paving the way for their fight. Spence followed suit.
MORE: Win tickets to a major fight — find out how
“The same way that you called Danny out, I’m going to call you out," Spence told Porter in the ring. "I think I'm the best welterweight in the division. I'm the truth and I guarantee you I come home as unified champion. I definitely want that fight against Porter."
"Showtime" shouldn't have a problem with that. In fact, he agreed to the fight right in the ring.
After figuring out Garcia early, Porter revved up his motor and mauled "Swift" while being the busier fighter the rest of the way. Porter was repeatedly able to close real estate between he and Garcia by landing a lunging left hook seemingly at will. At times, Porter would land the hook and follow up with stinging jabs that Garcia couldn't answer.
Garcia was able to counterpunch effectively at times but he was never able to operate comfortably and let his counters fly. By the time Garcia figured out that he was going to have to fight Porter's fight to have a chance, meaning letting his hands go, Porter had the bout wrapped up. Garcia, who arguably landed the harder punches in the fight, thought he should have had his hand raised.
"I thought I did enough to win," Garcia said. "It was a close fight. The judges didn't give it to me."
Garcia had his moments over the first couple of rounds when he cleanly landed counterpunches, but that changed once Porter mashed the dash on his mugging, smothering style and asserted himself from the third round on.
By the sixth round, Porter was landing punishing body shots while also sneaking in a stiff right jab and a right uppercut — both of which found Garcia flush in the face. About 30 seconds into the seventh round, the action was broken up and Porter was given a verbal warning for head-butting. Garcia seemed visibly upset. Porter used the moment to spring to action, landing a solid right hook and a combination that rocked Garcia's head back seconds later.
Garcia smiled as if the punch didn't do damage, but Porter had a lot more artillery where that came from and Garcia wouldn't grin again. Porter was the busier puncher, and it showed in a glaring way.
Shawn Porter def. Danny Garcia by unanimous decision for the WBC welterweight championship by (116-112, 115-113, 115-113)
Round 12: As advertised, Porter brought the fight to Garcia, not giving his arguably stronger-punching opponent the luxury to sit back and counterpunch. Garcia ended the final round with a flurry of desperation punches, but the round should still go to Porter by the slimmest of margins. 10-9 Porter. (114-112 Porter)
Round 11: Porter used speed to kill, once again using that left lunging hook to close space, followed by a stinging left jab moments later. Garcia was able to counter, but Porter rallied right back with a flurry of more punches. He's the busier fighter. 10-9 Porter. (104-103 Porter)
Round 10: Absolute fireworks, with Garcia showing a willingness to stand and slug it out with Porter as if to say he'll fight his opponent's style of fight if it gets him the W. 10-9 Garcia (94-94)
Round 9: That's where Porter's aggression can be used against him. Charging with his head down, Porter was caught by a solid left hand that rocked him. Earlier in the round, "Swift" landed a hard body shot to Porter's right ribs as well, but the round ended with Porter still charging. 10-9 Garcia. (85-84 Porter)
Round 8: Porter has more than turned this bout into his kind of scrap, mauling Garcia and landing a flurry of punches. "Showtime"'s weapon of choice seems to be that lunging left hook that he's using to instantly close space, not allowing Garcia to operate from his counterpunching point of comfort. 10-9 Porter. (78-74 Porter)
Round 7: About 30 seconds in, the ref breaks the action to warn Porter about head-butting. Garcia is visibly upset. At the 1:40 mark, Porter landed a solid right hook and followed that up with a combination that rocked Garcia's head back seconds later. Garcia smiled but was on the receiving end of a lunging left hook as well. Garcia stood firm and landed a couple of shots before the round ended, but it was Porter's round once again. Porter's volume of punches is going up. 10-9 Porter (68-65 Porter).
Round 6: Porter's best round yet. "Showtime" landed several body shots with his right hand, also sneaking in a stiff right jab and right uppercut that nailed Garcia flush in the face. Porter's motor is running and he's going forward. Halfway through, this fight has lived up to its potential. 10-9 Porter (58-56 Porter).
Round 5: Well, many boxing fans called this a 50-50 fight and the fifth round was the epitome of that with both fighters having their moments of being the aggressor. 10-9 Porter. (48-47 Porter)
Round 4: Just when it looked like Garcia was actually walking Porter down, "Showtime" took a punch and burst back from the corner post, lunging and finding real estate to land shots. He's beginning to assert that aggression for which he is known. Porter is talking about it while he does it, too. Let's see how Garcia adjusts. 10-9 Porter (38-38)
Round 3: Porter closed the distance between he and Garcia, but the Philadelphia fighter was still able to land clean shots. 10-9 Porter (29-28 Garcia)
Round 2: A clean left hook landed for Garcia right around the 10-second mark. Early on, he was the aggressor, bringing the fight to the man who brings the fight to everyone. 10-9 Garcia. (20-18 Garcia)
Round 1: Both Garcia and Porter were feeling each other out, but "Swift" did land a clean sweeping right uppercut. It will be interesting to see if Garcia can keep Porter's mauling style at bay with his counter-punching. 10-9 Garcia (10-9 Garcia)
Danny "Swift" Garcia's entrance:
.@DannySwift steps to the ring looking to get his belt back. #GarciaPorter pic.twitter.com/hzUd0ZbL0q — SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) September 9, 2018
"Showtime" Shawn Porter's entrance:
The stars are out for Garcia-Porter, which is next!
Undercard action
Yordenis Ugas def. Cesar Barrionuevo in WBC welterweight eliminator
Ugas won by unanimous decision, thoroughly dominating every round. We'll see if this brings him any closer to Spence answering the bell and taking him on as the mandatory challenger. Seems like it would be an intriguing fight.
Ugas is putting on a clinic. Don't blink here.
10:41 p.m.: Barclays just booed Adrien Broner, who stood up and relished in the hate.
People are booing this fight. Perhaps it's because it's slow moving. Perhaps it's because they're eagerly anticipating Garcia-Porter. But Ugas is a highly-efficient fighter, who hits hard, picks and chooses his spots without missing much, and makes his opponents pay for any mistakes.
Next up is the WBC welterweight eliminator between Yordenis Ugas and Cesar Barrionuevo. Ugas is Errol Spence Jr.'s mandatory challenger, with Spence openly saying in the past that he wants to fight a bigger name. Perhaps another Ugas victory would force Spence's hand to make the fight happen. Round 1 is underway.
Adam Kownacki def. Charles Martin; heavyweights
Kownacki gets the unanimous decision victory. He was the aggressor for a majority of the bout, landing some heavy artillery.
9:44 p.m.: The crowd at Barclays just rained down on Keith Thurman with a chorus of boos while giving Errol Spence Jr. a loud pop.
Adam Kownacki has an absolutely raucous following for his heavyweight clash against Charles Martin. Hometown, Brooklyn love.
They're through two rounds of hard-hitting action. pic.twitter.com/LCwo1YLmWT — Sporting News Boxing (@sn_boxingring) September 9, 2018
The Showtime telecast is underway with heavyweights Adam Kownacki and Charles Martin throwing hands in a scheduled 10-round bout. Kownacki has a raucous following in his hometown of Brooklyn.
Amanda Serrano def. Yamila Reynoso for the WBO junior welterweight championship
Serrano was overjoyed by the victory and creating history.
"This means everything to me. I work so hard and I hope this fight shows the fans that girls can fight and we can give it our all just like the men do," Serrano said in her postfight statements. "We deserve to have this platform and we deserve to be shown."
"(Reynoso) was tough and she came to win," Serrano added. "I give her a lot of credit for pushing forward and engaging. I'm hoping to be on Showtime next time. I'm a six-division world champion and I'm ready for anything next."
Serrano won a unanimous decision (99-91) to become the new champion. She is the first woman to ever win six different titles in six different divisions. She joins De La Hoya and Pacquiao as the only other boxers to accomplish that. Elite company. Reynoso really brought it, landing some heavy shots — and blatant punches after the bell — but Serrano kept her poise and dug in with combinations and uppercuts that did damage in the middle and late rounds. A fantastic fight.
That's it for the streaming part of Showtime's card. The bright lights are about to come on, with Showtime's telecast about to start.
Good scrap, indeed. This has been a hard-fought battle between Serrano and Reynoso.
Amanda Serrano looks to become the first woman boxer in history to win six different titles in six different weight classes. The only other boxers to accomplish that? Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Pretty good company. She faces Yamila Reynoso for the WBO junior welterweight championship next.
1 HOUR: @Serranosisters look to make history as the first female boxer to become a six-division champ.
Watch LIVE on Facebook & YouTube: https://t.co/alDQEjlHOw pic.twitter.com/0RWFRy9NCY — SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) September 8, 2018
Shawn Porter arrived at Barclays earlier in the hour.
.@ShowtimeShawnP is no stranger to Brooklyn as he approaches his 5th fight at @barclayscenter tonight 👊🏽 #GarciaPorter pic.twitter.com/AGtdpEIF1H — SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) September 8, 2018
The live undercard is underway here at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Altogether, three bouts can be seen on the Showtime Sports' YouTube channel and Showtime Boxing's Facebook page, the first of which just ended.
We're underway here at the Barclays Center.
Undercard action right now, with Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s TMT star and BK's own Richardson Hitchins winning a unanimous decision over Cesar Valenzuela Juarez. pic.twitter.com/JgH5vhygGI — Sporting News Boxing (@sn_boxingring) September 8, 2018
The waiting is over.
Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter will finally face off in their highly anticipated clash Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the vacant WBC welterweight title.
Sporting News will bring you round-by-round results via our live blog, so tune in to SportingNews.com starting at 7 p.m. ET for all the live results.
We'll start with the undercard, which includes some of the following fights: Yordenis Ugas vs. Cesar Barrionuevo in a WBC welterweight eliminator; Adam Kownacki vs. Charles Martin; heavyweights; and Amanda Serrano vs. Yamila Reynoso for the WBO junior welterweight championship.
