Editorials

For Shawn Porter There’s No Plan B, Only Keith Thurman

While “Showtime” Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs) took in the fights this past weekend at Booklyn’s Barclays Center, it was clear that he had one thing in mind and that is getting Keith Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs) in the ring with him.

Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter - Fight Gauge

While “Showtime” Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs) took in the fights this past weekend at Booklyn’s Barclays Center, it was clear that he had one thing in mind and that is getting Keith Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs) in the ring with him.

Originally a deal was believed to have been set to have the bout in December in Las Vegas, but the fight was called off before it was even announced and Porter doesn’t know what to make of it.

Maybe it’s the timing, Porter said moments before Daniel Jacobs made his ring entrance to defeat Peter Quillin. “I’m just the boxer. I don’t get into the business, but as far as I know maybe the fight date in Vegas was taken so we are waiting for it to be rescheduled,” said Porter.

Porter, the former IBF world champion, defeated Erick Bone and Adrien Broner following the tough loss to Kell Brook. His sights right now are firmly planted on Thurman and continuing his climb atop the pound-for-pound list.

“There’s no firm and official date but I can tell you it’s firm and official that Team Porter wants to fight Team Thurman,” Porter said. “As far as I know Keith Thurman wants to fight me so we are not sure what’s holding it up now.”

Porter says he’s been training twice a day, every day since he defeated Broner in a one-sided unanimous-decision victory last June that had some drama in the final round when Boner dropped Porter.

“The punch did not hurt me at all,” Porter said. “I watch that fight and when I see that knockdown I ask myself what happened and need to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Porter and his father are devising the perfect game plan should the Thurman bout happen possibly in January.

“To beat Keith you have to outbox Keith, pressure Keith and make it a dogfight. All things I can do,” Porter said. “I don’t think he’s been as prepared and conditioned as he should be for a fight. His endurance is something I can attack and test and that will work for us. Everyone saw the body shot [Luis] Collazo got him with but also everyone saw he continued and didn’t give up.”

Porter believes he’s matured since losing his title in a majority-decision loss last August at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

“I have a lot of takeaways from that fight,” Porter said. “First off I can’t rush anything in the ring. I need to always stay focused on our game plan. Also, I must make adjustments. There’s a lot spots in that fight I should have made adjustments, but I had my head wrapped around trying to knock him out and it never came. Actually, something worse happened to me.”

So does Porter want another opportunity at Brook?

“In a heartbeat,” said Porter. I would also fight him in the UK.”

Right now all of Porter’s attention is on getting the Thurman bout.

“From a scale of 1-10 I would love to say it’s a 10 the fight is happening, but since it’s not signed I’ll just say it’s an 8,” Porter said.

 

If it happens, who do you think will win Shawn Porter vs. Keith Thurman?

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