Brook Wins Thurman/Porter Match

BARCLAY CENTER, BKLYN
YESTERDAY'S BOXING NEWS TODAY
THURMAN UD OVER PORTER
Mr. Shawn Porter (26-2-1&16) showed himself to be an even tougher one-dimensional pugilist than I'd given him credit for being; wide-legged usually and occasionally holding lead glove in a pre-Emanuel Steward Lennox Lewis amateur positioning. Keith "One Time" Thurman's (27-0-0&22) left upper-cut was the only time he looked un-sloppy on the in-side, particularly in the later rounds. All told, Mr. Thurman lacked both strength and power nigh sorely so -- question: is "One Time" an ironic name? Like a big guy named Tiny? He didn't have the power to always guarantee an honest Porter, whose game-plan was to throw him into the ropes -- which he successfully did quite often.

Following that were the times when Thurman was at his telephone booth quarters sloppiest. Although too, it was when he'd far less occasionally land a decent uppercut. He accomplished this feat a handful of times in the championship rounds; only to be shaken off. All told, if Porter had as much as a Plan A-and-a-1/2, let alone a full-fledged Plan B -- this woulda ended awfully different and I daresay maybe 9 minutes earlier.

Humsoever, with more than 800 power punches thrown in a fight ending in a 115-113 on all cards fashion... it's hard to say anyone lost. Not the fans, not even Mr. Porter, whom again fortified his nifty singular dimension and tough beard on a national stage. Why, Thurman even keeps the zero in his loss column. It can also be true to posit neither participant and no spectator loses a match fought this bravely. Huzzahs abound all-around, gentlepersons.

Before we put this to bed, tho -- there was a definitive winner tonight. That being one Mr. Kell Brook (36-0-0&25). When Brook took on Porter in 2014 for Porter's IBF Welterweight Crown -- he took said crown from said head and back with him to jolly ol' chip-chip cheerio land and all that rot. He did so in a unanimous decision fought in such a way as to prove his very decent chance to neutralize what Thurman will bring if they were to engage in fisticuffs. Namely, a full-fledged Plan B -- say actually the least lil tick of employing some sweet science via a jab or side-step. Remember now too, that Brook didn't allow Porter to fling him rope-ward and actually had him backing up -- all off a jab not at all reminiscent of Thurman's pitter-pattying tonight. Mr. Brook looks nice, huh?

Yup. Brook comes out the only one of the three who has power and skills. Perhaps not the flash of Thurman nor bulldoggery of Porter, but close and has both in his toolbox. When I Kibbitz'd about this*, it was agreed this match would go a long way to deciding the Welterweight division's kingpin. I'll be a monkey's uncle if that tail wasn't pinned on neither in-ring pugilist.

In Thurman's post-fight interview, he laid claim to employing a rope-a-dope tact. Which doth sound a good tick better than "I got flung into the ropes, see." That is except to fans' ears at ring-side who seemed to have mixed responses to that. Ranging all the way from moans to notes of anger; some dismissive grunts could be heard as well.

EDITOR'S NOTE

*If'n interested, HERE is a link to the prediction Kibbitz podcast, wherein I correctly predicted tonight's pugilism outcome. I wasn't alone in doing so. I only Kibbitz with the very best.