Errol Spence vs Shawn Porter live stream: Free links to watch welterweight fight spread online amid piracy crisis
Boxing fans will seek pirated streams on social media sites though experts warn there are major hidden risks
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IBF Champion Errol Spence Jr is set to take on WBC Champion Shawn Porter in a welterweight fight that will unite the boxing division.
The bout will be available on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event in the UK, and on Fox Sports Pay-Per-View in the US.
However, some may be tempted to turn to illegal streams.
LIVE: FOLLOW UPDATES OF SPENCE VS PORTER
A recent report from the Industry Trust for IP Awareness, the UK's film, TV and video industry's consumer education body, revealed the extent of online piracy when it came to major sporting events, with figures suggesting illegal streaming has hit "peak levels" in 2019.
Major boxing contests in recent months have seen free live streams spread across the internet in the build-up to the fight, with pirated links shared across social media platforms. Countless pirated streams also appear on major search engines.
June's heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz saw over 13 million people around the world use unauthorised channels to watch the upset, according to figures from digital piracy authority Muso.
The increased levels have led industry figures to warn of the "very real risks" to people seeking out pirated online streams of the fight.
While many pirate sites seek to generate revenue through their illegal streams by hosting numerous pop-up ads to their websites, some look to underhand methods of gaining even more illicit income.
These tactics range from malware that hijacks a person's computer in order to secretly mine cryptocurrency, to sophisticated phishing attacks designed to steal a person's credit card details.
“Fake sites and redirects are a popular tactic used by cyber criminals and the fans paying to watch tonight’s match need to be aware of them, even if they look legitimate," Joseph Woodruff, a threat intelligence analyst at cyber security firm EclecticIQ, told The Independent.
"Cyber criminals use these sites to target users by telling them they have malware on their machine, recommending they call a support number and during the phone call, installing software which allows them into the system. It’s from here that other damage can be done, whether that is stealing payment details or installing ransomware."
Round three: Dirrell 28-30 Benavidez
Better round from both! Benavidez goes to the body and then the head but catches one on his chin and has to show some bravado.
Benavidez is smiling as he gets hit, almost laughing Dirrell's punches off, but they'll be taking their toll. A close round.
Round four: Dirrell 38-39 Benavidez
Benavidez got the round off to a good start with his jab but Dirrell backed him up on the ropes with around 30 seconds to go and forced his opponent to tuck up tight. He got a number of punches through so takes the round.
Round five: Dirrell 47-49 Benavidez
Lots of success for Benavidez in that round who is starting to up the tempo in his game in a really pleasing way, landing plenty of left and right hands in succession.
Round six: Dirrell 56-59 Benavidez
We have a cut! The right eye of Dirrell is cut quite badly and it's from a clean jab. The referee stops the fight to get it looked at and it resumes.
That could be a game changer.
Oof, that is a horrible cut. Right on the eyelid and Benavidez will now target it.
Round seven: Dirrell 65-69 Benavidez
Benavidez lands a couple of really nice shots there which leads to the ref stopping the fight again, the doctor allows it to continue again.
Dirrell is quite aware that one more inspection and this one could be stopped, the cut is badly impairing his vision. He needs to go for victory but is just too wary about the eye.
Round eight: Dirrell 74-79 Benavidez
Dirrell switches to southpaw for this round and is being far more aggressive but he's not landing too much. Benavidez takes his time in the round and lands some gut wrenching right hands to the eye, which is getting worse by the second.
AND IT'S ALL OVER!
David Benavidez stops Anthony Dirrell to win the WBC super-middleweight title for a second time.
All that's left now is the main event!
Errol Spence vs Shawn Porter is next.
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