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TAKE THAT . . . Briton Kell Brook (right) lands a jab on Shawn Porter during their IBF welterweight boxing title fight on Saturday night at Carson in California, United States. — AFP

CALIFORNIA. — Kell Brook beat Shawn Porter by majority decision to take over the IBF welterweight boxing title on Saturday night. The Englishman won 116-112 and 117-111 on two cards and the third judge made it a 114-114 draw after the 12-round fight in Carson, California. In one of the best performances by a British boxer this year, Brook was technically superior against the aggressive champion, who also lost his undefeated status.

Porter’s record dropped to 24-1-1, including 15 knockouts. Brook’s improved to 33-0, with 22 wins inside the distance.
A sizeable group of British supporters urged on the challenger, who is from Sheffield, as Brook’s accuracy enabled him to keep scoring in an engrossing battle.

The 28-year-old Brook had won the British welterweight title and the WBO and WBA intercontinental and IBF international belts on his way to landing the title fight.

He was due to fight Amir Khan, a former world champion, but had to pull out of a title fight with Devon Alexander because of an injury. Porter then got the opportunity and beat Alexander for the IBF belt in December last year.

Porter (26) was coming off a title defence against Paul Malignaggi, whom her stopped in the fourth round in April this year.
Brook claimed his first world title in only his second fight outside Britain, outpointing the American champion with a smart game plan and consistent elusiveness.

“Since I was nine years old, I’ve been training to be a champion,” Brook said. “I looked scrappy, but I did what I have to do. It’s an unbelievable feeling. I can’t get my head around it.”

Brook landed 36 percent of his 441 punches and Porter connected with just 25 percent of his 626. Porter threw 308 more power punches, but landed a much lower percentage.

The challenger kept Porter at bay with his superior reach when Porter attempted to force the action. Both fighters were cut early in clashes of heads but it did not appear to affect them.

Brook became more assertive in the later rounds and connected with several big shots in a dominant eleventh round. — AFP.