“Showtime” Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs) outworked and out-landed Adrien “The Problem” Broner (30-2, 22 KOs) on his way to a unanimous decision victory on Premier Boxing Champions on NBC in front of 8,138 fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night.
In a fight dubbed “The Battle for Ohio”, the Akron-born Porter threw 590 punches compared to the 309 thrown by the Cincinnati-native Broner. Porter landed 149 punches compared to 88 from Broner.
Porter relentlessly attacked the defensive-minded Broner with jabs and power shots to the body. Broner tried to slow down Porter by pushing and holding and was eventually deducted a point by referee Tony Weeks in round 11.
Showing the great power and heart that made him a three-time world champion, Broner came out strong in the 12th round and sent Porter to the canvas with a powerful left hook. Porter was able to recover and stay on his feet despite losing the round.
Porter was rewarded for his efforts with a unanimous decision by scores of 114-112, 115-11 and 118-108.
2012 U.S. Olympian Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. (17-0, 14 KOs) remained undefeated and justified the talk of him as a future superstar by stopping Phil “The Italian Sensation” Lo Greco (26-2, 14 KOs) in the third round. The official stoppage coming 1:50 into the round.
Lo Greco came out strong, winning the first round on all three judges’ scorecards. Spence Jr. rebounded with a dominating second round that saw him put together numerous combinations to the head and body.
In the third round Spence scored an early knockdown with a sharp right hook. “The Truth” saw his opportunity and put the fight away shortly after with a lighting fast flurry that forced judge Robert Byrd to stop the fight 1:50 into the third round with Lo Greco on his feet.
In the NBC swing bout, rising junior middleweight prospect Terrell Gausha (15-0, 8 KOs) kept his perfect record intact against tough Mexican brawler Luis Grajeda (18-5-2, 14 KOs) with a unanimous decision victory.
Gausha knocked down Grajeda in the third round with a huge right hand that nearly ended the fight. Grajeda was able to survive the round and had moments during the fight but was out-boxed by the much quicker Gausha. The finals judges’ scores were 78-73 and 79-72 twice.
In NBCSN action, undefeated prospect Robert Easter Jr. (14-0, 11 KOs) made quick work of Miguel Mendoza (21-6-2, 21 KOs), knocking him down twice en route to a TKO victory 2:13 into the second round while heavyweight Michael Hunter (8-0, 5 KOs) knocked down Deon Elam (14-3, 8 KOs) on his way to a fourth-round stoppage.
Here are what the fighters had to say Saturday:
SHAWN PORTER
”That’s how you beat a great fighter intelligently. We did everything we needed to do in preparation for this fight.
“Coming out we wanted to establish the jab and establish that we were the better boxer. I think we did that over the course of the fight, and tried to stick in some pressure, as well.
“I think I did a good job and accomplished what I wanted to do. There were no surprised out there, I knew he would be quick to counter.
“We established our dominance and that’s what got us those scores that we got and the win.
“Honestly my dad (trainer Kenny) wanted a quicker pace, a faster pace. And that’s why you have a corner. I think if I had listened to him better I would have fought a little bit better. There are things you can learn and things you can build upon.
“We’ll see what happens after this. I made a good statement tonight on NBC and showed what I’m capable of.”
ADRIEN BRONER
”I’m okay. My kids are okay and I’m financially okay. It’s okay.
“Nothing surprised me. At the end of the day, great champions can take a good loss, just like they take a good win.
“I still will fight anybody. It don’t matter. I am a real animal. I came to fight today and I didn’t get the decision. But at the end of the day everyone here will take my autograph and my picture.”
ERROL SPENCE JR.
“I got hit with a couple of head butts in the first round, but I came back strong and got good experience out of this fight.
“I worked the body for a bit and got his hands to drop and then I was able to go to the head. That was the game plan; to go to the body, that’s always the game plan. To go to the body, and the head will follow.
“On short rest, I knew he’d tire and fade quickly.
“I hit him with a right hook to the body and then caught his chin. Then I started whaling on him and it was over. I had a wounded guy and took advantage.
“PBC is great. This was my first time on a huge card like this and I put on a good show. PBC is going to help bring in the casual fans and get more exposure for all of us. Tonight was my coming out party.
“The other 147-pounders will have to take notice. I want Keith Thurman next on September 12 for one of Floyd’s titles.”
PHIL LO GRECO
”The short notice didn’t really affect me. Fighters fight no matter what. Nothing you can do but fight.
“There wasn’t really one big shot, it was more the barrage of punches that ended it. I’m fine though and I’ll come back stronger.
“I’d have liked to continue fighting because that’s what fighters do.
“Fighting on a PBC card was a great experience. I’ll be back shortly.
“I’m not sure what’s next right now. I don’t want to be impulsive, but I’ll be back soon.”
TERRELL GAUSHA
“I was catching him as he came in and trying to go to the body. He’s experienced though. I may have gotten a little anxious, but I got the win.
“His activity in the fourth round didn’t really surprise me. I’ve worked with him before. He’s been around the block and he’s a skilled fighter.
“I’m truly blessed to be in this position and to get this exposure on NBC. This gives me the motivation I need to get back in the gym and continue working hard.
“I’m going to let my manager figure out what’s next. I just want to keep improving with every fight.”
LUIS GRAJEDA
“He hit me in the third and I was dazed, but I recovered fast and did my best to even up the rounds.
“It was a straight right that caught me in the third and it surprised me a bit. From then on I was just trying to get back into it and get my shots off.
“I loved being a part of this PBC production. Everyone treated me incredible. This was like being part of a championship bout.
“I haven’t really fought an actual fight in a while before tonight. I want to get back in the ring some more and knock off the rest of the ring rust and get back to my true form.”
The card was promoted by promoted by Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions.
