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Shawn Porter's record is no longer perfect, as the welterweight prospect went to a 10-round draw tonight against former lightweight titlist Julio Diaz. Scores were 96-94 Porter, 96-94 Diaz, and 95-95. BLH scored it 95-95.
Porter (20-0-1, 14 KO) started pretty well, arguably winning the opening three rounds (and two of them, at worst), but Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KO) figured Porter out a bit, and started landing right hands with impressive accuracy. He also mixed in some solid body work, which the naturally thicker (though shorter) Porter never really focused on at all, perhaps to his detriment.
Porter, 25, has run hot and cold as a prospect, sometimes looking very good, sometimes a little iffy. He has drawn comparisons to Shane Mosley, but they aren't sticking; he doesn't have Mosley's power or speed, nor does he have Mosley's crazy willingness to get into brawls. In short, he's not Shane Mosley, and I'm guilty of having made that comparison earlier in his career, too.
Tonight was a disappointing performance for Porter. He never seemed to have real rhythm in there, and he's a guy still searching for his identity in the ring. Is he a speed merchant? A counter puncher? A stick-and-move fighter? He does all of these things, sometimes, and he seems to have gotten a full handle on none of it.
Diaz, 32, isn't quite done yet, though many thought he was. He hung in there well, took solid shots from a legit welterweight, and fought like he had to win. He looked sturdy and confident after a rough opening round, and while Porter was below expectations, don't discount that Diaz also performed above them.
Our live coverage of the Khan-Molina card will continue shortly, with three fights still to come.