Shawn Porter Nips Yordenis Ugas to Retain His WBC Belt

The weather was unseasonably chilly for Southern California which may have depressed attendance at the Dignity Health Sports Park, a venue designed primarily for soccer, but inside the ring the action was heated and when the smoke cleared Shawn Porter was victorious in the first defense of his WBC world welterweight title, staving off Yordenis Ugas by a split and somewhat controversial decision. Judge Zachary Young favored Ugas 117-111, but was overruled by Steve Morrow (116-112) and Max DeLuca (115-113) who cast their votes for Porter.

Yordenis Ugas represented Cuba in the 2008 Olympics and defected to the United States two years later. In 2014, he had a rocky patch, losing back to back fights to rising prospects Emmanuel Robles and Amir Imam. That preceded a 28-month layoff and when Ugas returned to the ring he was a new man. Named the 2016 TSS Comeback Fighter of the Year, he entered tonight’s fight riding an 8-fight winning streak.

Shawn Porter, a two-time world welterweight title holder, was making the first defense of the WBC belt he won in his last start when he outpointed Danny Garcia. Known inside the boxing community for his work ethic and his pleasant personality, he drew the loudest cheer when the fighters were introduced to the crowd.

Porter, who improved to 30-2-1, started fast, as was his custom. He was the busier fighter, but Ugas (23-4), who had a height and reach advantage, had no trouble evading his haymakers and was the better technician. He taunted Porter in rounds five and six. At the end of the bout, there were welts below both of Porter’s eyes. There were no knockdowns, but a near-knockdown in the final round when Porter fell after a sweeping right hand glanced off the back of his head. Referee Jack Reiss ruled it a slip.

Porter’s best punch of the night, a sweeping left, came near the end of round 11, a round that Porter appeared be losing. It wobbled the Cuban who was off balance when the punch landed. Take away that punch and the fight may have ended in a draw.

Like many of Porter’s most important fights, including his lone defeats to Kell Brook and Keith Thurman, this was a fight that could have gone either way. A rematch would be welcomed.

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