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
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
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."
Reminder that Spence's IBF title is on the line, while Porter puts his WBC belt up for grabs.
Whoever wins this one becomes the leading man of the welterweight division.
Round one: Spence 10-9 Porter
Porter doing what he is so good at, getting in close and making it a dog fight but Spence is keeping his distance and using that jab well.
Late in the round as Porter crouched down, Spence adjusted his feet well to let the left hand go and landed to the side of the head.
Round two: Spence 20-18 Porter
Good lead left hand from Spence in the second, who is using his feet well to move in and out of distance. Porter lands a right which knocks Spence off balance but he regains composure to reestablish his jab.
Round three: Spence 30-28 Porter
Big round! Both men land plenty of shots low and Spence is pulled up and warned by the referee for his shots. Porter gets in real close in that round and makes it the kind of fight he wants, have to give that one a 10-10.
Round four: Spence 39-38 Porter
Good work from Porter early in the fourth! He lands heavily to the head of Spence, Porter finds his range well and both men stand in the middle of the ring trading.
This is exactly the sort of fight Porter needs it to be. Relentless pressure.
We've got a fight on our hands ladies and gentlemen.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments