TV: Fox PPV
By Peter Lim
The vast disparity in finesse between Spence and Porter will be glaringly exposed as soon as Spence establishes his versatile southpaw jab. He utilizes it defensively to keep Porter at bay and offensively to set up powerful left crosses and body shots.
Dictating the tempo of the fight, Spence dominates the action from a distance and, when it pleases him, he engages his shorter, stockier opponent up close and personal. Porter manages to find sporadic moments of success when he forces Spence into the trenches and bullies him with short punches and roughhouse tactics. But those moments become fewer and further between as the fight progresses. Spence simply refuses to let Porter turn the fight into a prolonged prison brawl and continues spearing Porter with the jab while delivering calculated punishment upstairs and down.
By the sixth round, Porter’s face begins to show the effects of the brutal bludgeoning he has absorbed all night. He valiantly continues to try and turn the tide but the writing’s on the wall. Busted up, bruised and bloodied, Porter bravely and adamantly wants to fight on but his corner mercifully pulls the plug at the end of the ninth round.
What was anticipated to be an elite encounter between two elite fighters in arguably the most elite division in the sport today turns out to be a style mismatch.
Dictating the tempo of the fight, Spence dominates the action from a distance and, when it pleases him, he engages his shorter, stockier opponent up close and personal. Porter manages to find sporadic moments of success when he forces Spence into the trenches and bullies him with short punches and roughhouse tactics. But those moments become fewer and further between as the fight progresses. Spence simply refuses to let Porter turn the fight into a prolonged prison brawl and continues spearing Porter with the jab while delivering calculated punishment upstairs and down.
By the sixth round, Porter’s face begins to show the effects of the brutal bludgeoning he has absorbed all night. He valiantly continues to try and turn the tide but the writing’s on the wall. Busted up, bruised and bloodied, Porter bravely and adamantly wants to fight on but his corner mercifully pulls the plug at the end of the ninth round.
What was anticipated to be an elite encounter between two elite fighters in arguably the most elite division in the sport today turns out to be a style mismatch.
