Video by Victor Salazar
Tonight on CBS, SHOWTIME announced that the upcoming IBF Welterweight World Championship between defending champion Kell Brook and undefeated contender Errol Spence Jr. will air live on SHOWTIME this spring.
DiBella Entertainment, Barclays Center and SHOWTIME also announced the WBC Welterweight Eliminator between former 147-pound champions Andre Berto and Shawn Porter taking place Saturday, April 22, live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The winner of Berto-Porter becomes the mandatory challenger to WBA and WBC welterweight champion Keith Thurman.
Thurman defeated Garcia by a split decision Saturday night to claim the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight belt in a unification clash between the pair of unbeaten champions.
Thurman successfully defended his title for the third time, winning a tactical defensive struggle by scores of 116-112, and 115-113 on two of the judges' scorecards.
The other judge had it 115-113 for Garcia.
Saturday's match-up between the 28-year-old Americans was only the third time in history that two undefeated fighters fought to unify welterweight world titles and the first since Oscar de la Hoya faced Felix Trinidad in 1999.
Thurman is the first fighter in the division to hold multiple titles since Floyd Mayweather held the WBA, WBC and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) belts after defeating Manny Pacquiao in 2015.
There were no knockdowns as the 12-round fight at the Barclays Center turned into a strategic battle.
Thurman was the aggressor, scoring early then staying out of trouble in the final rounds for the victory.
Garcia went long moments without throwing a punch, seemingly content to wait for Thurman to attack then try to counter, but Thurman always seem to land one or two good punches in the closing seconds of each round.
ADD COMMENT VIEW COMMENTS (2)