You didn’t think we’d forgotten about this fight, did you?
12 Rounds of Christmas 2016: Round 9
Yes, fight fans (ourselves included) had our patience tested as we waited … and waited … and waited for Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter to square off in a 147-pound title bout. But we knew if the two childhood friends ever did get it on, our patience would be rewarded.
Because if anything in boxing was going to prove true the cliché “some things are worth the wait,” it would be Thurman vs Porter.
Sure enough, the June 25 brawl in Brooklyn, New York, lived up to all the hype—to the point that it likely landed on the ballot of every 2016 Fight of the Year list, including our own.
Truthfully, Thurman—who was making the sixth defense of his 147-pound crown—and Porter delivered several rounds that could’ve easily qualified for this list. So what set the ninth apart? High-volume, two-way action that brought the Barclays Center crowd to its feet as both fighters landed and absorbed multiple power punches, one of which opened a gash over the the champion’s eye.
As was the case with half the rounds in this slugfest, the judges were split on who won Round 9, with two scoring it for Thurman and one siding with Porter. Had Porter gotten the nod on all three cards, the fight—which Thurman won 115-113 across the board—would’ve ended in a majority draw.
That’s how competitive this long-awaited showdown was, and why fight fans would welcome a rematch.
For a complete recap of Thurman vs Porter, visit our fight page. And to view each of this year’s 12 Rounds of Christmas, head over to our video page.
