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Tonight at 9 pm ET on CBS, Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia meet in a highly anticipated welterweight title unification, topping a three-fight card from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Thurman (27-0, 22 KO) will put his WBA title on the line against the WBC belt held by Garcia (33-0, 19 KO) in a battle of unbeaten fighters, and a fight that has become highly personal in the build-up, largely thanks to the antics (to use a kind word) of Garcia’s father and trainer, Angel.
On the undercard, we’ll see top junior middleweight prospect Erickson Lubin (17-0, 12 KO) face Jorge Cota (25-1, 22 KO) in what is hoped to be a step-up bout for the 21-year-old "Hammer," and we’ll also see a must-win light heavyweight battle between veterans Andrezj Fonfara (28-4, 16 KO) and former champion Chad Dawson (34-4, 19 KO).
Wil Esco will be on the round-by-round call tonight, so join us for all the action this evening!
*****
RESULTS
KEITH THURMAN def DANNY GARCIA by Split Decision (116-112, 115-113, 113-115)
ERICKSON LUBIN def JORGE COTA by TKO (1:25, Round 4)
*****
ROUND BY ROUND
KEITH THURMAN vs DANNY GARCIA
Round 1: Thurman comes out looking for a left hook right away. Thurman lets go two more hard punches, he's going right after Garcia early. Both fighters trade blows at center ring. Thurman tries another left hook, Garcia tries to counter with a overhand right, neither land clean. Hard hook lands for Thurman! Then another one! Garcia stays composed under the blitz from Thurman but he felt those punches. Thurman 10-9.
Round 2: Thurman comes out aggressively, walking straight to Garcia. Thurman lands a right hand at the end of a combination. Thurman charges forward again with a combination. Hard right hand to the body lands for Thurman. Garcia tries to jab to the body but misses. Now Garcia lands a good right hand. Garcia lands a low blow, referee warns him to keep them up. Garcia then lands a left hook, Thurman reciprocates. Another right uppercut lands to the body for Thurman. Thurman 10-9, 20-18.
Round 3: Thurman looks like he hurts Garcia with a left hook. Garcia ducks down, looks like his gloves might've brushed the canvas. Referee lets the action go. Two good punches land for Garcia. Garcia goes back to the body. Better round for Garcia, I think he takes this one. Garcia 10-9.
Round 4: Thurman tries two hard body shots against Garcia to open the round. Garcia lands a jab to the body. Thurman boxing more this round, walks Garcia right into a right uppercut to the body, nice punch. Right hand to the body lands for Thurman, Garcia lands his own hook to the head. Close round, Thurman takes it with a clean left hook to end it. Thurman 10-9, 39-37.
Round 5: Thurman using a lot of lateral movement to open the fifth. Both fighters seem a slightly more tentative after tasting each other's power. Thurman tries two hard punches, then does Garcia, both miss. Hard counter right lands for Thurman, Garcia takes it well. Garcia showcases his head movement as Thurman whiffs on a combination. Another left hook beats Garcia's to the target. Thurman 10-9.
Round 6: Garcia lands a nice jab to start the round. Action comes to a crawl for the first minute of the round, the crowd starts to boo. Hard right hand lands for Thurman, clips Garcia with a check hook that was grazing. Garcia tries a one-two that falls short. Two good punches land for Garcia. Hard right lands for Thurman at the bell but I think Garcia takes this round. Garcia 10-9, 56-58.
Round 7: Garcia comes out with a right hand to the body. Both fighters boxing from the outside now as the crowd gets anxious. Now Garcia lets loose a hard combination. Thurman tries to follow up with his own. Both fighters trade body shots, Garcia's strays low. Garcia gets warned for another low blow, this one caught by the referee. Hard left hook lands for Thurman. Thurman 10-9.
Round 8: Garcia catches Thurman with a double left jab. Thurman tries a jab to the head and body. The fighters exchange and Thurman gets the best of it, but not by much. Garcia isn't pressing Thurman now, probably looking to time a counter shot. Garcia lands a sneaky counter right, but wasn't very powerful. Hard one-two lands for Garcia. Very hard round to score. I'm going with Garcia 10-9, 75-77.
Round 9: Garcia comes out with a right hook to the body. Nice counter hook lands for Thurman. The crowd is booing again as the action slows. The fighters have been trading less and less with each passing round. Thurman tries a three punch combination, looks like one landed. Thurman is picking up the pace now which will probably make the difference here. Now both fighters trade punches for the last 10 seconds of the round! Thurman 10-9.
Round 10: Angel Garcia is much more concerned in the corner than is Thurman's trainer Dan Birmingham. Thurman jabbin' and movin', stoppin' and poppin'. Garcia misses on two big hooks upstairs. Another check hook lands for Thurman. Garcia comes with a counter right uppercut which grazes Thurman. Thurman lands some good body shots on Garcia, wins him the round. Thurman 10-9, 97-93.
Round 11: Thurman is coasting a bit this round, feeling like he's up comfortably on the scorecards. Not a lot of action, Thurman pulling a page out of De La Hoya against Trinidad. Now with 15 seconds left the fighters decided to trade. Garcia 10-9.
Round 12: Thurman comes out right away with a good right hand. Now Thurman is dancing around the ring, running out the clock. The crowd starts chanting for Garcia as Thurman circles to avoid action. Now Thurman lands a left hook. Garcia lands a hard right hand, Thurman returns the favor. Now Garcia strafes Thurman along the ropes with a flurry. Thurman continues to back away. I'm giving the round to Garcia, 10-9. BLH has it 115-113 for Thurman.
ERICKSON LUBIN vs JORGE COTA
Round 1: Tentative opening to the round, both fighter's too cautious to let go a real punch first. Lubin finally tries a straight left which falls short. Lubin now tries two jabs and a left hook, Cota backs away. Cota is keeping his chin tucked really tight behind his lead should. Nothing of significance lands in this round but Lubin controlled things a bit better. Lubin 10-9.
Round 2: Lubin comes out jabbing and moving laterally, then lands a nice check hook. Cota retaliates with a combination. Lubin lands a lead right hook but Cota strikes right back with a counter. Cota attacks Lubin's body during a clinch that the referee was slow to break. Left hand to the body lands for Cota. I think Cota edges the round but there's not much action, crowd is really quiet. Cota 10-9, 19-19.
Round 3: Both fighters come out throwing punches this round but nothing much lands clean. Now Cota lands a hard right! Lubin presses Cota to the ropes and unleashes a few hard punches. Lubin feints COta wight a right hand and then lands a hard straight left which shakes up Cota. Cota quickly regains his composure and attacks back. Another close round but I think Lubin wins it on the few clean, sharp punches. Lubin 10-9.
Round 4: Cota comes out fighting in a right handed stance this round after fighting southpaw up to this point. ERICKSON LUBIN COMPLETELY SMASHES COTA WITH A LEAD LEFT HAND! COTA CRUMBLES TO THE FLOOR! Cota manages to beat the 10 count but the referee doesn't like the look in his eyes, he waves it off. Lubin TKO-4.