We may have just witnessed the 2016 Fight of the Year at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as Keith Thurman retained his WBA welterweight title by unanimous decision against Shawn Porter.
Thurman and Porter put on a show for 12 rounds in an action-packed thriller that saw both fighters land massive shots. The two fighters were more than willing to press the action and throw punches, and in the end, it was Thurman's ability to land clean, heavy shots that won out over Porter's smothering attacks on the ropes.
While many fights start with a feeling out period, Thurman-Porter wasted no time getting to the action. Porter went to work on the ropes in the second round as Thurman tucked in and looked to throw counters.
There's been no shortage of action so far through 2 rounds of #ThurmanPorter! pic.twitter.com/OKw3qWDdC9
— PBC (@premierboxing) June 26, 2016
In the third round, it was a right hook by Thurman that staggered Porter late and notified Porter that his power was very real.
Thurman lands a right hook that stuns Porter in round 3! #PBConCBSpic.twitter.com/E3GV4XVexT
— PBC (@premierboxing) June 26, 2016
In the fourth, Thurman found success with the left hook as a counter to Porter's jab coming in and staggered the challenger again. That punch would be his go-to throughout the fight, and the big shots he landed with it won him the bout.
Thurman lands another devastating shot in round 4! #ThurmanPorterpic.twitter.com/C2MgpawTMf
— PBC (@premierboxing) June 26, 2016
Porter refused to back down, even in the face of those massive left hooks from Thurman, and landed one of his best single punches in the fifth round, looping a right over the top.
Thurman isn't the only one landing big shots! Porter landed this beauty in round 5. #ThurmanPorterpic.twitter.com/Es6WtlSaz8
— PBC (@premierboxing) June 26, 2016
Some of Porter's best work came in the eighth round when he really hurt Thurman with a vicious left to the body that forced Thurman to retreat all the way across the ring to the ropes.
Porter hurts Thurman with a couple of painful shots to the body in round 8! pic.twitter.com/8rp6cXjRmu
— PBC (@premierboxing) June 26, 2016
The 10th round featured a flurry from both fighters with Thurman once again pushing Porter back with a left and Porter responding in kind with combinations of his own.
Back and forth! Round 12 #ThurmanPorter is happening NOW! pic.twitter.com/GqmbOZUdoZ
— PBC (@premierboxing) June 26, 2016
The action never stopped in Thurman-Porter and both fighters had plenty of reason to leave with their heads held high, even if Thurman walked out with a unanimous decision on the cards. For my money, that was the Fight of the Year so far in 2016 and we ought to get a rematch out of this sensational bout.