On Sunday afternoon Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter authored one of the most exhilarating boxing matches in recent memory, putting their bout on a shortlist of candidates for best fight of the 2016 season.
Thurman and Porter have a friendship that dates back to their teenage years, but that didn’t stand in the way of them having a tremendous back-and-forth battle over Thurman’s 147-pound championship.
In the first boxing match to air on the US free-to-air network CBS since the 1978 bout between Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks, the surging American stars put on a show for those relishing boxing’s return to the multi-billion dollar network.
Porter, who pocketed $1 million for the championship fight, was the busier fighter over 12 rounds, but the most impactful blows of the fight were landed by the champion.
Thurman wobbled Porter with a few powerful punches, but the tough-as-nails challenger refused to go down.
In the end, the defending champion landed 235 punches during the 36 minutes contested, one fewer than his opponent, but connected with a higher percentage of blows thrown – 44 percent, compared to 32 percent from Porter, which likely swayed the judges.
All three ringside judges scored the bout 115-113, awarding Thurman the win and a $1.4 million purse.
This author scored the fight even, 114-114, but even the most cynical viewer couldn’t remain upset about the outcome of the match for long, with fighters and journalists singing its praises.
Thurman wins a great fight by UD. Judges must have liked precision instead of pressure. What a great fight. #REMATCH #ThurmanPorter
— Sergio Mora (@TheLatinSnake_) June 26, 2016
If promoters made these types of matches more often and if the fighters had the heart Thurman & Porter showed, boxing would be so so great.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) June 26, 2016
Thurman and Porter hit the sweet spot on a sure-fire ‘Fight of The Year’ (FOTY) contender on Sunday, which – despite popular opinion – requires more than just balls-to-the-wall action.
If a great fight that really gets the fans blood pumping was the only criteria for the best fights of the year, the winner would usually take place on a tiny amateur show in the middle of nowhere – not on primetime television viewed by millions.
The most outstanding fight of the year – in any combat sports variant – needs high stakes to go along with the breathtaking action.
Asian mixed martial arts promotion ONE Championship hosted an atomweight title fight between 19-year-old prospect Angela Lee and grizzled veteran Mei Yamaguchi in May.
The fight was heralded as an instant classic, a real arm wrestle for the inaugural 105-pound crown, but there’s a reason it’s not in serious discussions for 2016 FOTY.
Yes, it was a brilliant fight, and it was even for a title, but nobody could even make a case for that fight determining the world’s best atomweight – let alone the pound-for-pound best female fighter.
MMA’s actual FOTY – so far, at least – is a fight that will be talked about for decades to come between UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and top contender Rory MacDonald at UFC 195 in January.
The technical slugfest was for all the marbles at 170-pounds – arguably the most talent-rich weight class today – and both fighters put it all on the line in a blood-soaked 25-minute battle for the UFC crown.
Similarly, Thurman and Porter was a ridiculously good fight with the WBA welterweight championship up for grabs.
It’s rare for a high-stakes fight between the elite of the elite to result in a real barnburner that steals the show – but when it does, it mixes together like a perfect cocktail.
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