by David P. Greisman

Keith Thurman helped prove his case that he is one of the best in the welterweight division by beating Shawn Porter on Saturday night in Brooklyn. His win means Porter’s loss, but Thurman also believes Porter’s losses aren’t going to hurt him too much.

“The beauty of Shawn Porter is that when he lost his IBF title [to Kell Brook in 2014], he lost to an undefeated fighter. When he lost tonight, he lost to an undefeated fighter,” Thurman said in the post-fight press conference. “So Shawn Porter is not No. 1 in the world. Shawn Porter is not No. 2 in the world. But Shawn Porter is an exciting and great fighter in the welterweight division, and nobody can deny that. Yes, he is still valuable. Yes, he still has a marquee. And me being undefeated and still the WBA champion, my stock has risen.”

The bout was close on the scorecards — 115-113 from all three judges, with Thurman taking seven rounds and Porter getting five. Those scores sounded right to promoter Lou DiBella, who said he had it 6-5-1 for Thurman. While there were many close rounds, and while many fans in the arena booed the decision, this close decision wasn’t a controversial one.

“A draw would’ve been a fine score. Seven-five for Thurman was a fine score,” DiBella said afterward. “Who cares? It was great. And the scores were fair. I think it would’ve sat a little strangely if a champion lost his belt in a fight that was so like this. Thurman deserves to go home still champion. Shawn deserves to go home happy. … A fight that close, it’s hard to see a title changing hands. It was a classic fight, but I thought the champion deserves to keep the title.

“But did Porter lose? No, Porter didn’t lose. Honestly, he executed a brilliant game plan. He was in there with a big, strong animal. I thought Shawn fought a great fight,” he said. “Either one of these guys can beat or contend with anybody in the welterweight division. These are two elite guys in the welterweight division. Neither one of them took a step back tonight.”

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