In a fight that was fought in close quarters, and featured a lot of headbutts, Shawn Porter (27-2-1) was able to stop Andre Berto (31-5, 24 KOs) in the ninth-round to become the WBC mandatory challenger. Keith Thurman holds the WBC & WBA welterweight belts. The 12-round welterweight fight was held at Barclays Center, and aired on Showtime.
Porter was able to drop Berto in the second and ninth rounds. Ultimately, he overwhelmed Berto, which led to the stoppage at the 1:31 mark of the ninth-round. The fight went just the way I imagined it would. Porter was too strong, and the pressure he put on Berto was too much for him to handle.
For Porter, 29, he now has an opportunity to avenge his loss to Keith Thurman. The two, fought last June, in an action packed fight. It’s a fight that many would love to see again!
For Berto, 33, maybe it’s time to think about life after boxing. He has had a tremendous career, but at this point what else can he do?