Showtime boxing results: Shawn Porter stops Andre Berto, sets up Thurman rematch

Shawn Porter is now the mandatory challenger for Keith Thurman’s WBC welterweight title, after he physically wore out Andre Berto tonight on Showtime in a rough, physical fight, that saw Porter get a ninth round stoppage victory.

Porter (27-2-1, 17 KO) and Berto (31-5, 24 KO) both had their cut men working overtime in this one — along with the referee and the fight doctors — as the two clashed heads repeatedly, opening cuts on both men.

Porter was cut first, in the second round, and came back to drop Berto in that same frame. Porter was cut over the other eye in the fourth, and Berto was also opened up in that round.

Even the end of the fight involved a headbutt, as they collided once more and Berto was staggered a bit, but the action resumed quickly. Moments later, Berto was knocked into the ropes and ruled down by referee Mark Nelson. After a count, Porter pounced once again, driving Berto back to the ropes. Referee Mark Nelson made a reasonable call to stop the fight there, as Berto had been increasingly taking punishment without offering a whole lot in return.

At the time of stoppage, BLH had the fight 78-73 and 79-72 for Porter.