Kell Brook knew he had done enough against Shawn Porter
Kell Brook was always confident he had done enough to take the IBF welterweight title from Shawn Porter after a “tough, tough” fight against the American in California.
The Sheffield fighter overcame the odds to take the belt on a majority verdict at the StubHub Center, two judges giving it in his favour by scores of 117-111 and 116-112, with the other official at ringside making it a 114-114 draw. Porter had been the stronger of the two fighters in the early rounds but seemed to tire as the bout wore on, allowing the challenger to take control. Brook – who suffered a cut above his eye in the second round – landed the cleaner shots and despite being away from home, felt he had done enough by the final bell to get the nod.
“It’s been a long time coming” he told Sky Sports. “It was a tough, tough fight. I needed to dig in at times, but I trained hard for this fight. I’ve come over here, to his back yard, from little old England and I’m the new champion. “I’m not a judge, but I felt in control. I felt like I was catching him with the cleaner shots. He was trying to be rough, hit me on the back of the head, but I did what I needed to do. “When the (final) bell rings you can always feel if you’ve won or not. I did feel that it was close, but I knew that I’d nicked it.
“It was a scrappy fight. But I did what I had to do and now I’m champion of the world.” Porter too felt he had won the fight after the conclusion of the 12th and final round; he was also quick to call for a rematch in the aftermath to suffering his first loss as a pro. The American, who had taken the IBF belt from Devon Alexander last December, suffered a nasty gash above his right eye, while the cheekbone on the same side of his face was also swollen by the end.
“I think that I’m still the champion. I fought like a champion and I don’t think he beat the champion,” he said. “But with that being said, I’m 24-1 and have to go back to the drawing board. “I thought I was effective with my attacks. He was ready for it and he did hold a substantial amount through the rounds. “There are no excuses. He took my belt tonight, but I want the rematch. I will find wherever he is and take it from him."