Shawn Porter edges Yordenis Ugas to retain WBC title

Shawn Porter held on to his WBC welterweight title by a whisker Saturday night, winning an unpopular 12 round split decision over Yorgenis Ugas at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA. Saturday night.

The scores were 116-112 and 115-113 for Porter, and 117-111 for Ugas.

Maxboxing scored the fight 114-114.

Ugas, taller, and with a reach advantage, opened the fight jabbing. Porter bounced on his toes and tried to find a way inside. Ugas’s length would trouble him all fight. He eventually landed to the body and head. Ugas fought back, but Porter appeared to win the round.

Ugas went back to pumping his jab in round two. Porter got aggressive and swung for the fences, but missed. Ugas went downstairs, but ate a right hand to the chin.

Porter circled to his left in round three. His strategy was curious. Getting under the long wingspan of Ugas appeared to be the better plan. The action slowed as both fighters waited for the other to make a move. They stared at each other. This pattern would repeat itself throughout the bout—making it even harder to score. Ugas walked after Porter who connected with two sneaky rights.

In rounds four and five, Ugas was more aggressive. He worked the body effectively. Porter leaped in with a left. Ugas landed a good right to the head in round five. Porter fired combinations but continued to miss. Ugas landed his own combination in round six. Porter returned fire. Ugas made him pay by landing a solid left hook.

Porter came out punching in round seven. He was still having a hard time hitting the much taller Ugas. He needed to be busier. Ugas clipped him with a right. The champion did well near the end of the round. Porter continued his rally in in round eight. Ugas was stalking, and rocking, and glaring. Porter was moving slightly, looking for an opening. The crowd was booing. Ugas landed a solid right hand in round nine.

With three rounds to go the fight was extremely close. Ugas was the aggressor, but Porter was doing some good work as well. Porter landed a double hook. Ugas caught him with another right. Porter jabbed and moved. No matter what, he would continue to box. A cut appeared over Porter’s right eye. The staring and feinting continued.

Both fighters landed solid shots in round 11. An off balance Ugas wobbled after Porter connected with a glancing right hook.

The 12th and final round could decide the fight. Ugas connected with a left hook. Porter moved inside, but didn’t punch. He engaged some in the last minute of the round. A hard jab connected – followed by a left uppercut. Ugas missed a big right as Porter moved away.

“We wanted to out box him and eventually turn it on and press him,” said Porter. “But my dad (trainer Kenny Porter) did not think that was the smartest way to win the fight."