Welcome to Fightful's live coverage of Errol Spence Jr. vs. Lamont Peterson for the IBF welterweight championship. This is Showtime's first major boxing card of 2018, returning to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Fightful has a preview of the main event on the January 18 edition of the Fightful Boxing Newsletter, which can be viewed at this link.
We'll be bringing you full, round-by-round coverage of the main televised card and recaps of the top two undercard fights. You can also send in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
Below is the main televised card (9:00 p.m. EST, Showtime):
- Errol Spence Jr. (c) defeated Lamont Peterson via TKO, Round 8 to retain the IBF Welterweight Championship
- Robert Easter Jr. defeated Javier Fortuna via split decision (114-113, 113-114, 115-112)
Below is the online undercard (7:00 p.m. EST, Fightful.com):
- Marcus Browne (20-0) defeated Francy Ntetu (17-1) via TKO, Round 1: Light Heavyweight Bout
- Adam Kownacki (16-0) defeated Iago Kiladze (26-1) via TKO, Round 6: Heavyweight Bout
Below is the untelevised undercard:
- Ivan Golub (13-1) defeated Fidel Monterrosa Munoz (38-14-1) via TKO, Round 3: Junior Middleweight Bout
- Mathew Gonzalez (2-0) defeated Alexander Serna (1-1) via unanimous decision: Welterweight Bout
- Anthony Peterson (37-1) defeated Luis Eduardo Florez via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-89): Junior Welterweight Bout
- Dylan Price (4-0) defeated Nestor Ramos (7-7-1) via TKO, Round 2: Bantamweight Bout
- Keyshawn Williams (1-0) and Denis Okoth fight to a split draw: Welterweight Bout
TOP UNDERCARD FIGHTS
Adam Kownacki (16-0) defeated Iago Kiladze (26-1) via TKO, Round 6: Heavyweight Bout: Scrappy fight, but it was very sloppy at times. Kownacki's nose was broken in the first round of the fight and he looked gassed after two rounds, breathing with his mouth and not with his nose. Kownacki did scored numerous strong combinations to Kiladze and Kiladze soon got tired as well. Kiladze would keep his hands down throughout the fight and payed for it when he got knocked down in the fourth round. It seemed like the fight could end in that round, but it continued with Kownacki punishing Kiladze throughout the fight. Kownacki scored another knockdown in the sixth round with a strong left hand, but Kiladze barely got back up. Kiladze was in no condition to continue and the referee stopped the fight right there. Good win by Kownacki, but has a lot to improve on, mainly his condition, the ability to clinch well and effectively and managing to control the anxiety when fighting under the bright lights and a strong television audience.
Marcus Browne (20-0) defeated Francy Ntetu (17-1) via TKO, Round 1: Light Heavyweight Bout: Browne got off to a monster start, knocking down Ntetu with a left hook with Ntetu on the ropes. Ntetu got back up, but Browne was going at it at 100 miles per hour. Browne was landing every type of punch imaginable as Ntetu was cornered and the referee had to stop the fight. Browne looked great and he's almost on the precipice of getting a truly big fight sometime in 2018.
MAIN CARD
Robert Easter Jr. (20-0) vs. Javier Fortuna (33-1-1): Lightweight Bout
Round 1: Easter begins with a few jabs thrown. Easter then throws a left hook. Fortuna is on the defensive for this first round. Easter continues to move forward and attack Fortuna until the two of them clinch in the corner. Fortuna throws a nice combination, but Easter blocks it. Not a whole of intense action in the first round, but Easter’s aggressiveness gives him the round.
Fightful scored round 1 for Easter 10-9
Round 2: Fortuna is a lot more aggressive to start the second round and looked like he could hurt Easter for a second. The two men clinch. Both men are throwing numerous hooks and hits Easter in the back of the head. A point is deducted by the referee as a result. Fortuna unleashes a flurry of punches on Easter. Fortuna lands a solid counter left hook. The two men clinch once more.
Fightful scored round 2 a 9-9 draw
Round 3: The two men trade quick shots to each other. Easter lands a 1-2 on Fortuna, Fortuna is back to moving across the ring with Easter putting his best foot forward to pressure him. Easter blocks a three-punch combo by Fortuna which looked like it could have done damage. Fortuna lands a quick left hook and hits Easter. Easter clinches with Fortuna to avoid any further danger.
Fightful scored round 3 for Fortuna 10-9
Round 4: Fortuna is on the attack as soon as the bell rang. Easter continues to attack using the jab and keep his distance from Fortuna. Easter got a quick counter right uppercut on Fortuna. Easter lands a left hook to Fortuna’s forehead, but that’s not stopping Fortuna from moving forward. Easter lands a good right hand and Fortuna lands a counter left. Both men clinch. Easter gets hit with a short uppercut, but now Easter is moving forward again. Both men continue to clinch for the duration of the last minute of the round, much to the crowd’s displeasure.
Fightful scored round 4 for Easter 10-9
Round 5: Fortuna misses with the right hook and the two men clinch again. Easter attacks Fortuna’s body and Fortuna also lands some shots in. Easter lands an uppercut to the body that is dangerously close to low blow territory. The two men continue to battle around the ropes. Fortuna lands a few shots to Easter’s body after Easter lands an uppercut.
Fightful scored round 5 for Easter 10-9
Round 6: Easter goes to work on the body and then lands an uppercut to Fortuna’s chin. Fortuna then throws a couple of clubbing hooks, but Easter blocks them. Easter seems much more in control than when he was a few rounds ago. Fortuna is in the corner, but gets out of danger. Easter lands a strong jab, but Fortuna hurts Easter more with a counter and the two engage in a scrapfest to end the round.
Fightful scored round 6 for Fortuna 10-9
Round 7: The two boxers continue to throw various punches at each other with Fortuna’s back to the ropes. Fortuna lands a counter left uppercut. Easter then throws a few jabs, but there isn’t much action in the middle portion of the round. Fortuna taunts Easter and the two clinch.
Fightful scored round 7 for Easter 10-9
Round 8: Fortuna clinches with Easter. Easter throws a right hook but Fortuna ducks under the punch. Fortuna snuck in a quick left hook to Easter. Easter throws a combination of punches. Most of the punches didn’t land but it did create some pressure for Fortuna. Fortuna’s back is to the ropes, but then throws a couple of uppercuts to Easter. Easter lands a sharp right hook to the body. Easter then controls the tempo with a series of 1-2 jabs towards Fortuna.
Fightful scored round 8 for Easter 10-9
Round 9: Fortuna goes down, but it’s ruled a slip. Fortuna continues to defend and be near the ropes, while Easter pressures Fortuna. Fortuna lands a quick uppercut. Easter then unloads a series of hard punches, one of them landing square on Fortuna’s jaw. Easter lands another jab to Fortuna while Fortuna continues to move around the ring. Both men clinch once more. Fortuna lands a punch that seemed to stun Easter for a quick second and Fortuna looked like he could hurt Easter but the bell sounded.
Fightful scored round 9 for Easter 10-9
Round 10: Easter continues to dominate Fortuna and kept landing quick jabs to Fortuna. Fortuna lands a heavy left hook to Easter’s jaw and the two trade each other’s numerous hooks. The rest of the round see both men trade punches and with more clinching. Fortuna did land a few more good punches than Easter and has recaptured some momentum heading into the 11th round.
Fightful scored round 10 for Fortuna 10-9
Round 11: Easier eats a quick left jab to Fortuna. Easter is back in control by throwing numerous jabs to Fortuna. Easter then lands a left hook, but Fortuna responds with an uppercut. With both men in the corner, each fighter gets a shot to land a few good punches. Fortuna lands a strong left uppercut and is hurt. Both boxers clinch once more. Fortuna lands a right jab.
Fightful scored round 11 for Fortuna 10-9
Round 12: The two boxers give it everything they got and Fortuna manages to hurt Easter and then they clinch, almost wrestling to the ground. Easter is on the offensive. The rest of the round turns into a brawl as both men continue to give it everything they got. Both men clinch as Fortuna lands a few hooks to the body.
Fightful scored round 12 for Fortuna 10-9, making it 114-113 Fortuna
Official Result: Robert Easter Jr. defeated Javier Fortuna via split decision (114-113, 113-114, 115-112)
Errol Spence Jr. (c) (22-0) vs. Lamont Peterson (35-3-1): IBF Welterweight Championship
Round 1: Both men trade jabs to start. Spence is more active on the right jab. Peterson throws a punch to the body. Spence throws a decent 1-2 to the body. The round continues with Spence just throwing jabs. Nothing else.
Fightful scored round 1 for Spence 10-9
Round 2: The two boxers are more active this time around. Spence lands a quick hook to the body. Spence continues to land more until Peterson lands a left hook of his own. Spence continues to attack the body and then follows it up with an uppercut. Spence then lands a jab followed by an uppercut and Peterson's hurt. Peterson gets a good right jab in.
Fightful scored round 2 for Spence 10-9
Round 3: Peterson lands a right jab. Spence then connects with a punishing left hook. Spence hits Peterson with a left jab to the body. Spence follows it up with a couple of good left hands. Peterson then goes on the offensive by landing a few good body shots. Peterson is now in control of the fight for a moment. Spence then splits Peterson's defense with an uppercut. Speaking nce then unloads more punishment on Peterson.
Fightful scored round 3 for Spence 10-9
Round 4: Spence attacks Peterson even more but Spence then hits a low blow on Peterson. Spence then lands a few more hooks to the body. Spence hits Peterson with a three-punch combo. Spence continues to work the jab, but Peterson manages to sneak in a good uppercut. Spence lands another uppersut. Peterson is hurt. Spence finishes the round strong with a couple of strong body shots.
Fightful scored round 4 for Spence 10-9
Round 5: Peterson goes to work on Spence's body. Spence lands a couple of good left hooks Spence then knocks down Peterson with a vicious left hand. Peterson is in trouble. Spence is dominating Peterson and Peterson is wobbly. Peterson throws a couple of uppercuts, but Spence is still in control. Peterson manages to stay up and dodges a couple of Spence's punches. Spence almost knocks down Peterson again. Big round for Spence.
Fightful scored round 5 for Spence 10-8
Round 6: Peterson tries his best to fight back, throwing a couple of left hooks, but Spence avoids them. Spence continues to dominate the much older Peterson. Peterson's right eye is massively swollen. Spence then goes back to throwing the jab for a bit. Spence lands an uppercut followed by a left hook. Peterson lands a quick left hook. Spence continues to land more and more.
Fightful scored round 6 for Spence 10-9
Round 7: Peterson gets checked out by the ringside doctor before the round begins, but he's cleared to fight. Spence continues to control the pact of this fight, but Peterson is fighting hard to land a clean shot. Spence tags Peterson with a jab followed by an uppercut. Peterson connects with the jab, but Spence lands several big punches. Spence lands an uppercut and Peterson is almost hurt again.
Fightful scored round 7 for Spence 10-9
Round 8: The referee called a stop to the contest at the start of the round. Spence retains the belt.
Official Result: Errol Spence Jr. (c) defeated Lamont Peterson via TKO, Round 8 to retain the IBF Welterweight Championship
