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Shawn Porter: More Than Just An Opponent
By: Hector Franco
After three long years that felt like an eternity, three-division and current WBO welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) finally has a fight that is worth looking forward to.
He will defend his WBO 147-pound title against former two-time welterweight champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs).
The fight will take place on November 20th at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas and will be shown exclusively on ESPN+ PPV.
When Crawford first entered the welterweight division in 2018, he immediately won a title, scoring a dominant ninth-round stoppage over Australia’s Jeff Horn to win the WBO championship.
Since then, Crawford’s career has plateaued.
He has been relegated to the standard one or two fights a year against solid, but nondescript opponents.
The three-division champion is ranked by all legitimate boxing publications as one of the top three fighters in the world pound-for-pound. He was the best lightweight in the world when he plied his trade in that weight class. When he moved up to the junior welterweight division, he became the division’s first undisputed champion in the four-belt era, joining just a handful of fighters who have earned that distinction.
Crawford’s two forays in the pay-per-view market have been unsuccessful from a box office perspective.
The first PPV he headlined was in 2016 in a junior welterweight unification clash with Viktor Postol that garnered only 50,000 buys. His second headlining appearance on PPV performed better when he faced Amir Khan in 2019, earning 125,000 buys.
Fans and pundits have been anticipating a match between Crawford and unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. since joining the welterweight ranks.
But, multiple factors have kept that fight from taking place, ranging from both men being promoted by rival promoters, being unable to come to financial agreements during negotiations, and Spence being in a life-threatening car crash in the fall of 2019.
Most recently, Spence pulled out of a mega-fight with the now-retired Manny Pacquiao when it was discovered that he suffered a retinal tear in his left eye. While Spence is likely to return, it’s unclear how much of his former self will be retained.
Crawford was left in the same position he has been in since arriving at welterweight, waiting on the sidelines for the right opponent.
Enter Shawn Porter.
“I’ve been calling out the top welterweights since I moved up to 147 in 2018, and I’m excited that Shawn stepped up,” stated Crawford. “This fight will bring out the best in me and showcase parts of my game that the world hasn’t seen yet. On November 20, I will silence my doubters and prove that I am the best welterweight in the world.”
Earlier this year, when the WBO ordered Crawford to enter into negotiations with his mandatory challenger Porter, many were still skeptical if the fight would take place.
A purse bid was ordered; however, the two sides were able to come to an agreement saving fans from witnessing another fight head into oblivion in what has been, at times, a disappointing 2021.
Porter will not only represent Crawford’s most significant test at welterweight, but arguably of his entire career.
At lightweight, Crawford’s breakout performance came against the then-undefeated, but undersized Yuriorkis Gamboa. The Nebraska native’s other preeminent victory came against Postol in 2016, who was also undefeated at the time.
Crawford’s opponents have ranged from average to good, but he hasn’t faced an opponent as of yet that would be considered elite.
At welterweight, Porter has been considered one of the foremost fighters since first winning the IBF title from Devon Alexander in 2013.
For almost a decade, Porter has participated in some of the most crucial fights in the division. Some of his most notable wins came against Paulie Malignaggi, Adrien Broner, Andre Berto, and a razor-close decision over current WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas.
The Ohio fighter’s most prevalent victory came against former two-division champion Danny Garcia to win the WBC welterweight title in 2018.
While Porter is highly regarded, he is best known for coming short in his most important fights.
In the second defense of his IBF title, he lost a clear decision to the United Kingdom’s Kell Brook in 2014. When he faced off against the now virtually retired Keith Thurman in 2016, he lost a close unanimous decision for the Florida fighters WBA welterweight title.
Most recently, he dropped a decision to Errol Spence in 2019 with a knockdown in the 11th round, ultimately positioning the fight in Spence’s favor.
The Thurman and Spence fights were great bouts that numerous fans and some media members had Porter winning. However, as of now, he hasn’t been able to put himself over the hump to truly establish himself as the absolute best welterweight.
Although more successful as a two-time champion, Porter draws comparisons to a fighter of a few generations ago.
In the 1990s, the welterweight division was among the best in boxing, featuring fighters such as Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Pernell Whitaker, and Ike Quartey.
One fighter that could very well have won a title in today’s era, but failed to in the 1990s was Detroit’s Oba Carr (54-6-1, 31 KOs).
He was a product of Emanuel Steward’s Kronk Gym and was in the unfortunate position of being in the welterweight division with some of the best in the history of the weight class.
Carr challenged for a welterweight title three times in his career and came up short each time.
In 1994, on one of Don King’s famous stacked cards that featured Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Ricardo Lopez, and the famous Jorge Castro-John David Jackson bout, Carr challenged Felix Trinidad for his IBF welterweight title.
After flooring Trinidad in the second round, he ultimately succumbed to the Puerto Rican’s pressure and was stopped in the eighth round after being knocked down twice.
The closest Carr came to winning a title was against Ike Quartey in 1996, where he lost a majority decision in a fight where both fighters were deducted points at Madison Square Garden.
The final title opportunity for Carr was in 1999 when he took on Oscar De La Hoya for the WBC welterweight title. In this fight, Carr was dropped in the first round and was stopped in the eleventh round after being knocked down again.
In all three of Carr’s title shots, he was competitive and at times had his moments where it seemed that the fight could go his way.
Similar to Porter in today’s landscape, Carr was a rite of passage for welterweights to prove themselves as elite.
However, against Crawford, Porter will get the chance to prove that he is more than just a pseudo-initiation into elite status at welterweight.
“All I know is greatness, and I don’t think greatness comes with taking steps back,” Porter said on his podcast The Porter Way. “No disrespect to any of the other guys that are ranked two or three through ten. But, to me, the step forward is Terence Crawford. And that’s why I wanted this fight.”
For Porter, the fight with Crawford is a turning point in his career. A loss will leave him with the same reputation as being a tough fight for the best at welterweight.
A victory, however, would reshape his legacy.
Porter would be right at the top of the division and be rated as one of the best fighters in the world, pound-for-pound.
A win may one day get him voted into the International Boxing Hall-of-Fame. It would further the fact that in boxing and combat sports in general, an undefeated record isn’t the quintessential element when rating a fighter.
“I’ve wanted this fight for a long time, and now my patience has paid off,” said Porter. “Throughout my career, I’ve taken on the best and proven myself as a man who gives 100 percent in everything I do. Terence Crawford is a great, versatile fighter who is very athletic, just like myself.
“We are the two best welterweights in the world, and on November 20, we get a chance to prove who is the best. Fight fans can expect a great show that night and, with this victory, I will cement myself as the best welterweight of this era.”
Crawford-Porter is a fight that can deliver on all levels.
Crawford will look to prove that he should be looked at as the best fighter in the world. Porter will attempt to be recognized as more than just an opponent.
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Shawn Porter Confident Heading Into Terence Crawford Showdown: “I’m 100% Going To Knock This Dude Out, I’m Not Playing Nice”
By: Hans Themistode
The rest of the world may snicker and laugh whenever Shawn Porter speaks of upsetting the applecart but that doesn’t bother him.
As the former two-time welterweight champion continues to prepare both his mind and body for the monumental task of facing Terence Crawford, his self-belief only increases. On November 20th, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the two will officially square off with Crawford’s WBO title on the line.
According to oddsmakers and the vast majority of the boxing public, Porter is in over his head. With Crawford laying waste to his competition at 135, 140, and now – 147 pounds, Porter, by and large, is viewed as yet the latest victim on Crawford’s Hitlist.
Yet, despite watching Crawford stop every single one of his welterweight opponents since moving up to the weight class in 2018, including registering a fourth-round stoppage against Kell Brook in November of 2020, Porter isn’t unnerved with what he’s seen. While he has the utmost respect for Crawford, as Porter peeks through his often criticized resume, Porter can’t help but notice a trend.
“Every fighter, you’re supposed to go to the ring with the mentality that I’m going to win, I’m going to upset the crowd, I’m going to upset the fighter, I’m taking his belt,” said Porter on The Porter Way Podcast Clips. “You’re supposed to have that confidence and belief in yourself. But this is what I believe about everybody that Terence has been in the ring with, those guys haven’t gone to the ring with that mindset.”
Porter’s comments pertaining to the resume of Crawford have been an ongoing theme throughout the Nebraska native’s career. Although he occupies a high placement on every credible pound for pound list, Crawford has yet to face someone of note at 147 pounds.
Regardless of his shallow resume, Porter, who’s taken on the likes of unified champion Errol Spence Jr. and former titlist Danny Garcia, still considers Crawford the most versatile fighter he’s ever faced. With that said, Porter is in no shape, or form backing down from the challenge that the pound-for-pound star presents. Not only does he fully intend on winning their upcoming showdown but if things go the way he envisions, it could be a long and painful night for Crawford.
“Mentally, emotionally, I’m 100% going to knock this dude out. No, I’m not playing nice.”
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Terence Crawford Believes A Win Over Shawn Porter Solidifies Him As The Best Welterweight In The World
By: Hans Themistode
Terence Crawford believes it. Those in his circle believe it. And his never-ending supporters believe it as well. Yet, not everyone shares that same mindset.
In the opinion of the WBO welterweight titlist, he is far and away the best fighter in the division. However, with the likes of unified champion Errol Spence Jr. and WBA belt holder Yordenis Ugas nipping at his heels, not to mention up and comers Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron Ennis slowly but surely climbing up the rankings, there’s an ongoing debate centering around who holds the crown as the top dog at 147 pounds.
But, with a showdown against perennial contender Shawn Porter looming on November 20th, Crawford views it as the perfect opportunity to place his flag at the top of the welterweight mountain.
“It’s just putting that little stamp on being considered the best welterweight in the division,” said Crawford to ESPN. “Shawn Porter has fought everybody in the division, dating back to when he was fighting the likes of Julio Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi and those types of guys. Shawn has been in there with everybody.”
In addition to his bouts against the aforementioned Paulie Malignaggi and Julio Diaz, Porter has also shared the ring with Spence Jr., Ugas, Danny Garcia, Devon Alexander, and Keith Thurman. In comparison, Crawford’s resume has been routinely chastised for the lack of big names associated with it.
Still, regardless of the criticism that’s consistently thrown in the direction of Crawford’s resume, he currently occupies a spot on every credible pound-for-pound list.
With the opportunity to pick up the most notable win of what appears to be a Hall of Fame career, Crawford doesn’t want to hear anyone’s name mentioned before him when discussing who is the best fighter in the world, once he takes care of business on November 20th.
“They’ll be saying that’s the reason why he’s pound for pound the best fighter in the world. I guarantee it. ”
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Shawn Porter: “More Than Errol Spence Jr., Keith Thurman, Terence Crawford Is The Most Versatile Fighter In The World”
By: Hans Themistode
Shawn Porter’s career has been built upon facing the best fighters in the world.
As a young prospect, Porter added the scalps of former champions Paulie Malignaggi and Devon Alexander, the latter resulting in Porter’s first world title reign. The Akron, Ohio native has continued to test himself throughout the years and as a result, he realizes that he’s faced just about everyone in the welterweight division.
Porter’s impetuous nature has now led him to a November 20th, showdown against pound for pound star, and current WBO welterweight titlist, Terence Crawford. Having shared the ring against the likes of Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, and most recently, Errol Spence Jr., Porter is convinced that Crawford’s skill and stature stand above all else.
“It is,” said Porter when asked if Crawford is the most difficult fight of his career during an interview with FightHype.com. “Because more than Errol Spence Jr., more than Keith Thurman, Terence Crawford is the most versatile fighter in the world.”
The versatility that Porter alludes to, has been on full display throughout Crawford’s career. In 2014, after being outboxed early on during his showdown against Yuriokis Gamboa, Crawford opted to move away from his orthodox stance and instead, fought Gamboa during the second half of their contest as a southpaw. The change in fighting style proved to be a good call as Crawford went on to pick up the ninth-round stoppage victory.
In Crawford’s 2019 matchup against Egidijus Kavaliauskas, the multiple division titlist was troubled during the early stages by his Lithuanian counterpart. Crawford then opted to move away from his traditional boxing approach and proceeded to bully Kavaliauskas, knocking him all across the ring until he registered yet another, ninth-round TKO victory.
As Crawford continued to show his multifaceted skills, Porter has taken notice. With the pair now set to swap fists in just over two months at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Porter is making sure that his normal top-notch training camp, is taken to a whole other level.
“The preparation is going to be bar none, better than anyone else that I’ve ever prepared for.”
As Porter continues to put his body through the most grueling training camp that he’s ever endured, he’s steadfast in his belief that it’s a necessary evil in order to pick up the win. In the end, the former two-division champion believes that by the time his showdown against Crawford comes to an end, all who tuned in and ordered the pay-per-view or paid their hard-earned money to attend the fight, will give them a standing ovation for an unbelievable night of boxing.
“You’ll see it all, skill vs. skill, talent vs. talent, heart vs. heart. This is one for the ages.”
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Shawn Porter On Terence Crawford Showdown: “I Have What It Takes To Beat Him, Don’t Sleep”
By: Hans Themistode
Shawn Porter’s resume speaks for itself.
The 33-year-old welterweight contender is highly respected in his weight class and has shared the ring with the best of them. Yet, despite wrapping gold around his waist on two separate occasions and regardless of Porter picking up notable wins against the likes of Danny Garcia, Devon Alexander, and Yordenis Ugas, most expect him to fall woefully short in his next ring appearance.
On November 20th, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Porter will go toe to toe with WBO 147 pound titlist, Terence Crawford. With the number of world titles Crawford has aggregated throughout his career, he’s regarded by most as the best fighter in the world. Due to that distinction, Porter is viewed by many as having little to no chance at pulling off the upset win.
But while Porter has openly accepted that he is the underdog heading in, that doesn’t mean he isn’t brimming with confidence.
“I have what it takes to beat him, don’t sleep on that, believe that. I do.”
In spite of the odds, Porter is expected to be the biggest test of Crawford’s career. Since making the move seven pounds north to the welterweight division, Crawford has been both impressive and disappointing. While he’s managed to register stoppage wins in every single one of his 147 pound bouts, the Omaha, Nebraska native has fought less than stellar competition.
Most recently, Crawford was last seen in the ring dismantling long-faded former champion, Kell Brook. Although Brook appeared to be in terrific shape, he provided little to no resistance and was subsequently stopped in the fourth round.
Regardless of whom the betting public is choosing as the victor on the night, in the end, Porter is firmly of the belief that the combination of himself and Crawford in the ring will lead to nothing short of a terrific showdown.
“When I say the fight between me and Terence Crawford is going to be great, it’s gonna be great.”
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Terence Crawford: “I Don’t Believe I’ve Shown Them My Best Yet”
By: Hans Themistode
Terence Crawford heard the critics loud and clear.
While his trophy case was filled to the brim with numerous awards, Crawford was constantly castigated for the level of opposition he fought along the way. Bob Arum, Crawford’s long-time promoter, consistently pounded the pavement in an attempt to find the multiple division titlist a worthy opponent.
However, after spending years facing fighters who were considered at the bottom of the barrel, Crawford would simply step into the ring and take care of business with relative ease. Now, with Crawford facing whom many consider being his toughest foe yet in Shawn Porter on November 20th, the Omaha, Nebraska native believes for as great as he’s been thus far, he’ll be given the opportunity to go even deeper into his bag of tricks.
“I’m very excited,” said Crawford, during an interview with ESPN. “Now I can show my talent and maybe I can show something for the general public, something that they’ve never seen before.”
Porter, 33, has spent the better part of the past decade as either a world champion or a highly rated contender. After snagging the vacant WBC welterweight title from Danny Garcia in September of 2018, Porter would go on to eke out a close split decision win against current WBA titleholder, Yordenis Ugas. Porter would then attempt to add even more gold to his waist as he took on Errol Spence Jr. in September of 2019. Porter’s dreams ultimately, would fail to come true as he fell just short of his goals.
Since then, Porter has regained that winning feeling, defeating journeymen Sebastian Formella via unanimous decision in August of 2020.
As for Crawford, following his move to the welterweight division in 2018, the three-division titlist has scored five knockout wins in a row. Crawford’s propensity to toy with his competition may have left him atop most pound for pound list but once the bell rings come November 20th, he believes he’ll go to an even higher level.
“I don’t believe that I’ve shown them my best yet.”
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Terence Crawford Vs. Shawn Porter Officially Set For November 20th
By: Hans Themistode
Terence Crawford has long been considered one of, if not the best, pound-for-pound fighter in the world. That said, the multiple division titlist lacked the resume to justify those claims. For years, the current WBO welterweight champion urged the biggest names in or around his division to take him on. Now, after hammering out a deal behind the scenes, Crawford has officially gotten his wish.
As first reported by Mike Coppinger of ESPN, Crawford and Shawn Porter are set to square off on November 20th, at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After moving into the number one ranking in both the WBC and WBO sanctioning bodies, Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) had the option to either take on unified titlist Errol Spence Jr. or, the aforementioned Crawford. Having swapped fists with Spence Jr. in 2019 and coming up short via split decision, Porter revealed that he was more inclined to take on Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs), citing the desire to face a new foe.
While Crawford was Porter’s preference all along, the former two-time 147-pound belt holder admitted that a showdown between the pair was unlikely. Most of Porter’s doubts stemmed from promoter Bob Arum going on record stating that he wouldn’t offer Porter more than one million to face Crawford, something Porter scoffed at.
The two sides ultimately pushed their differences to the side and sat down at the negotiating table thanks to the WBO sanctioning body ordering a purse bid, something that was set to take place later this afternoon. Now, with both parties agreeing to terms, their previously scheduled purse bid has been canceled.
For Crawford, Porter represents the toughest opponent he’s faced thus far. Earlier this year, the 33-year-old Nebraska native scored a predictable early stoppage against long-faded former champion, Kell Brook.
As for Porter, the highly ranked contender has picked up several notable wins during his 147-pound tenure, including against the likes of Danny Garcia, Yordenis Ugas, Adrien Broner, and Devon Alexander.
Most recently, after losing his WBC crown via split decision to Spence Jr., Porter found himself back in the win column. The Cleveland product handed a one-sided beating to fringe contender Sebastian Formella in August of 2020.
Crawford vs. Porter will officially be offered on ESPN+PPV as opposed to a joint PPV.
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Tim Bradley On Shawn Porter Vs. Terence Crawford: “Why Is This Fight On PPV?”
By: Hans Themistode
When Terence Crawford was ordered to defend his WBO welterweight title against former two-time titlist Shawn Porter, Tim Bradley couldn’t stop himself from grinning. The former two-division belt holder finds a matchup between the pair intriguing and is interested in seeing how things shake out.
Originally, the two sides attempted to hammer out a deal behind the scenes. But with Top Rank, Crawford’s representatives, and Premier Boxing Champions, the representatives of Porter, unable to finalize an agreement, a public purse bid was set to take place on September 2nd.
After continuing to work diligently, both sides requested an extension as a deal draws closer. They will now have until September 14th, to reach an agreement or a purse bid will in fact take place.
Regardless of the contractual side of things, Bradley isn’t interested in how much either fighter will make or where the fight will take place. The former 140 and 147-pound champion simply wants to see the two in the ring. For a fight of this magnitude, a pay-per-view setting is the likely destination. Yet, in Bradley’s opinion, forcing customers to pay for a showdown between two fighters who aren’t the most ballyhooed, isn’t the best idea.
“You have two guys who aren’t relatively known,” said Bradley.
For Porter, the 33-year-old former belt holder has competed in one PPV thus far and managed to reel in terrific numbers. In September of 2019, Porter went toe to toe with unified 147-pound champion, Errol Spence Jr. While Porter would go on to lose, they reportedly raked in over 300,00 PPV buys. Since the loss, Porter has bounced back, outpointing fringe contender Sebastian Formella in August of 2020.
As for Crawford, although he usually finds his name near the top of every pound-for-pound list, his PPV numbers haven’t impressed. In his first appearance on that platform, in July of 2016, Crawford easily outpointed Viktor Postol to unify titles in the super lightweight division. His performance may have been nearly flawless on the night, but his PPV numbers checked in at reportedly 50,000 buys.
Crawford’s second PPV, this time against Amir Khan in April of 2019, performed better as reportedly 150,000 customers purchased the event to witness Crawford score the sixth round stoppage.
While Crawford’s PPV numbers increased during his second go round and despite Porter generating over 300,000 for his fight against Spence Jr., Bradley believes they just aren’t recognizable figures in the regular world.
To prove his theory correct, Bradley revealed that he conducted an experiment.
“I walked around and asked 20 random people who don’t know anything about boxing. Do you know Terrence ‘Bud’ Crawford? They said no. Have you ever heard of Shawn Porter? No. All 20 of them said they never heard of them. So why is this fight on pay-per-view?”
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Brian McIntyre, Trainer Of Terence Crawford, Anxious For Shawn Porter Showdown: “It’s Go Time”
By: Hans Themistode
Before Terence Crawford even fought his first fight at 147 pounds, both he and trainer Brian McIntyre believed he was the best fighter the division had to offer. But while the Nebraska native continued to show otherworldly skills in the ring, his competition left much to be desired.
In his most recent outing, Crawford had little to no trouble dispatching former welterweight champion Kell Brook. But, due to his advanced age, checking in at 35, Crawford’s fourth-round stoppage win attracted even more criticism than praise. Now, however, with the pound-for-pound star likely to face his toughest opponent by far in former two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter, McIntyre views it as an opportunity for his fighter to prove his worth.
‘It’s go time,” said McIntyre during an interview with World Boxing News. “Now there will be no doubt that Bud [Terence Crawford] is 147-pound supreme.”
Earlier this week, the WBO sanctioning body ordered both Crawford and Porter to negotiate a deal within 30 days. If not, they would be forced into a pursue bid. News of the WBO’s actions were music to the ears of Porter. The rough and rugged contender made it no secret that Crawford was the fighter he wanted above anyone else. While the two are good friends outside the ring, Porter is of the mindset that since he’s fought most of the top guns in the 147-pound division, a showdown against Crawford would be a fresh and exciting matchup.
The eagerness for their contest to come to fruition was also shared by Crawford. The 33-year-old switch hitter has also heard the nonstop criticism of his resume but claims that many of the top names in his weight class shied away from facing him. Now, with a matchup against Porter on tap, Crawford believes he can use Porter’s name to prove that he’s much more than just the best fighter in the welterweight division.
“I’ve been begging for a challenge for years,” said Crawford to ESPN. “All the so-called ‘elite welterweights’ have shown no interest in fighting me,” said Crawford. “Now one of them is finally being forced to. I’ll show once again why I’m the best P4P fighter in the world. Be ready.”
Currently, both sides are still hammering out the particulars. If everything goes according to plan, the two would face off sometime in the upcoming fall. While McIntyre doesn’t want to overlook Porter, he believes that a win is essentially a formality. Although the two-time welterweight belt holder will receive a fully focused Crawford, McIntyre is already planning his fighter’s next contest.
“After beating Porter, we want the winner of [Errol] Spence-[Manny] Pacquiao.”
On August 21st, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, both Spence and Pacquiao will face off. With Crawford attempting to lure both fighters into the ring on numerous occasions, McIntyre will now watch their showdown with a careful eye as he plans on positioning Crawford into a mega showdown with the winner.
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Terence Crawford On Possible Shawn Porter Showdown: “I’ll Show Once Again Why I’m The Best Fighter In The World”
By: Hans Themistode
Terence Crawford’s boxing skills have never been questioned. Yet, for years, his overall resume has been ridiculed and picked apart.
The former three-division titlist and current WBO welterweight belt holder, sat patiently as he was fed lesser opponent after lesser opponent. All the while, he hoped that one day he would face someone who could truly put his skills to the test. Now, after the WBO sanctioning body has ordered him and former two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter to negotiate a fight agreement, the pound-for-pound star is getting exactly what he wanted.
“I’ve been begging for a real challenge for years,” said Crawford to ESPN.
In June of 2018, after picking up every world title at 140 pounds, Crawford moved up to the welterweight division and immediately snagged the WBO title from former titlist, Jeff Horn. He’s since defended his crown against whom many would consider an uninspiring cast including Jose Benavidez, Amir Khan, Egidijus Kavaliauskas and most recently, Kell Brook.
All the while, Crawford has received plenty of criticism for his choice of opponents. Still, the Omaha, Nebraska native has insisted that he doesn’t choose who he faces and has attempted to secure bouts against former unified champion Keith Thurman, current unified titlist Errol Spence Jr. and future first-ballot Hall of Famer, Manny Pacquiao.
While he was apoplectic that he’s been unable to get any of the bigger names to face him, Crawford appears ecstatic that one of the division’s best fighters will now have no choice but to face him in the ring.
“All the so-called ‘elite welterweights’ have shown no interest in fighting me,” said Crawford. “Now one of them is finally being forced to.”
Porter, 33, has long expressed a willingness to cast aside promotional differences and face Crawford in the ring. Several months ago, the Akron, Ohio native revealed that his team had attempted to make a showdown with Crawford a reality but ultimately felt disrespected with what was offered to him financially.
With a purse bid now set to take place in 30 days if both sides aren’t able to find middle ground on a deal, Porter figures to be well compensated for his possible matchup against Crawford. The former titlist was last in the ring in August of 2020, easily outworking fringe contender Sebastian Formella.
As a matchup against Porter nears, Crawford views it as a chance to once again stake his claim as the best fighter around, regardless of the weight class.
“I’ll show once again why I’m the best P4P fighter in the world. Be ready.”
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Terence Crawford Vs. Shawn Porter Officially Ordered By The WBO
By: Hans Themistode
With WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford and highly rated contender Shawn Porter seemingly gaining no ground in their fight talks, the WBO has stepped in to ensure it happens.
As of this past Wednesday night, the sanctioning body has formally ordered both sides to begin negotiations.
“Please be advised that the parties herein have thirty (30) days upon issuance of this notice to negotiate and reach an agreement for the above-referenced WBO Welterweight Championship Contest,” Luis Batista Salas, chairman of the WBO Championship Committee noted in an official letter sent to both camps. “If an accord is not reached within the timeframe stated herein, a purse bid will be ordered per the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.”
News of their forced negotiations, in all likelihood, will be music to Porter’s ears. The former two-time welterweight champion has attempted to foster a deal behind the scenes with Top Rank headman and long-time promoter Bob Arum. With the Akron Ohio native holding a top two ranking in three of the four sanctioning bodies, he was given his pick of the litter in terms of which championship route to take.
Having faced many of the division’s top names including Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman and Errol Spence Jr., Porter opted to take on a new and fresh face in Terence Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs). While the two have always shared a close relationship, Porter, on numerous occasions, expressed a willingness to put their friendship on hold.
With that said, Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) felt both irritated and disrespected in how negotiations were going. According to the multiple-time belt holder, Arum was only willing to pay him roughly one million dollars upfront, along with pay-per-view upside. Porter barked at his offer and recently admitted that he would be moving away from the negotiating table entirely.
If, for some reason, both sides continue to struggle with the financial part of their agreement, a purse bid would then be ordered. In that scenario, although a minimum of $200,000 will be allowed to stage the fight, the end result figures to be millions of dollars to ensure the fight happens.
Both Crawford and Porter have yet to make their 2021 debuts. The undefeated belt holder has continued to destroy his competition in the ring but has faced heavy criticism for whom he decides to take on. In November of 2020, the Omaha native destroyed former titlist, Kell Brook. Although at one point Brook was considered one of the best welterweights in the world, he has long been a shell of his former self.
The former three-division titlist has chased after the big names in the division including Errol Spence Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. But, he’s also made it clear that a matchup with Porter is one that he would be more than willing to accept.
As for Porter, if the fight with Crawford is made, he’ll look to pick up the biggest scalp of his career. Since coming up short against Spence Jr. in September of 2019, he’s bounced back with a dominant win over fringe contender Sebastian Formella in August of 2020.
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Keith Thurman Vs. Shawn Porter II Reportedly Could Be Next
By: Hans Themistode
With a close contest in June of 2016, there was always a belief that both Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter would do it again. Now, according to reports, they’ll have a chance to do just that.
As first reported by Mike Coppinger of The Athletic, a rematch between the pair is currently being discussed. Part two of their back and forth first showdown would seemingly take place in the fall later on this year.
In June of 2016, Thurman beat Porter by identical 115-113 scores on all three judges’ scorecards. Shortly after, Thurman would go on to defeat Danny Garcia by split decision to unify titles in the welterweight division. But while Thurman was considered by most as the man to beat, his career took off in the wrong direction.
Following his win over Garcia, Thurman would spend close to two years on the sidelines due to various injuries. He would eventually come back to outpoint borderline contender Josesito Lopez in January of 2019. Although he appeared rusty, Thurman pressed forward with his career and would land a mega showdown against Manny Pacquiao in July of 2019. Thurman would hit the canvas in the first round of said contest but would rally back. His second-half surge wasn’t enough, however, as Pacquiao handed him the first defeat of his career and stripped him of his WBA welterweight title. After the loss, the injury bug bit him once again as he hasn’t been seen in the ring due to a hand injury.
While the stock of Thurman has seemingly taken a hit, Porter’s couldn’t be any higher. The Cleveland Ohio, native went on to reel off four wins in a row, including a title winning effort against Danny Garcia and a single title defense against the highly-rated Yordenis Ugas.
In an attempt to unify titles against Errol Spence Jr., Porter fell just short of doing so via split decision in September of 2019. Brushing that loss aside, Porter picked up a wide decision win against fringe contender Sebastian Formella in August of 2020.
Although a rematch with Thurman is something that Porter has always craved, the former two-time welterweight champion was adamant in taking on current WBO belt holder, Terence Crawford. Yet, after negotiations behind the scenes broke down, Porter stated that he was putting Crawford in the rearview mirror to chase other matchups.
While nothing is official just yet, with neither man having a fight currently booked, we could be on our way to seeing them match up in the ring once more.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Terence Crawford Talks Reportedly Dead in The Water
By: Hans Themistode
The wait continues for Terence Crawford.
For years now, the former three-division world champion and current WBO welterweight belt holder has waited patiently for an opportunity to face a big-time opponent. Up until recently, it appeared as though he was just a few contract details away from getting exactly what he hoped for.
Sources close to the situation revealed that Manny Pacquiao, 42, was on board with facing Crawford on June 5th, later on this year. For Crawford, things couldn’t have worked out any better as he long expressed a desire to face the future first-ballot Hall of Famer. In fact, as first reported by Mike Coppinger of The Athletic, Pacquiao signed his agreement and was fully prepared to face the pound-for-pound star. However, the funding for their showdown, which was set to take place in Abu Dhabi, has apparently fallen through.
For Pacquiao, he was last seen in the ring roughly two years ago dethroning previously unbeaten Keith Thurman in July of 2019. Despite his inactivity, boxing’s only eight-division champion has found himself in the midst of several fight rumors. In addition to a showdown with Crawford, Pacquiao originally stated that he was “leaning” towards a contest with former four-division titlist, Mikey Garcia.
Those thoughts, at least for now, have fallen by the wayside.
With the most significant contest of his career officially off the table at the moment, Crawford is expected to take on former two-time world champion Shawn Porter. Long before negotiations began between both Crawford and Pacquiao, Porter threw his name into the mix.
At the moment, the Cleveland Ohio native is currently ranked number one in both the WBC and WBO sanctioning bodies. While he could use his high ranking to pursue a rematch with unified champion, Errol Spence Jr., a contest Porter would lose by split decision in September of 2019, Porter has instead chosen to go down the path of Crawford.
Bob Arum, current promoter of Crawford, acknowledged that the two likely matchups for Crawford would in fact be Porter and Pacquiao with the latter serving as the preferred opponent.
Crawford was last seen in November of 2020, bullying former champion Kell Brook to the tune of a fourth-round stoppage win.
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Shawn Porter Gives Andre Ward High Praise: “I Feel Like He’s A Goat But People Don’t Realize That”
By: Hans Themistode
Over the course of boxing history, the greatest of all-time debate will seemingly never end. Most fans have planted their feet in the dirt and taken the side of one fighter over the rest of the field. Amongst them, the names that are often mentioned in those conversations are the usual suspects such as Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather, Ray Robinson, Roy Jones Jr. and a shortlist of others.
While former two-division world champion Shawn Porter agrees with those sentiments, the Cleveland Ohio native can’t help but scratch his head when the conversation is brought up. In no way, shape or form does he want to remove any of those previously mentioned names. Instead, he simply wants to add someone else to the mix.
“Andre Ward,” said Porter during his podcast The Porter Way Podcast Clips. “I feel like he’s a goat but people don’t realize that. This man has not lost a match since he was 12 years old.”
In the case of Ward, his boxing resume does seem to warrant his inclusion in the goat conversation. As an amateur, Ward dominated the competition to the tune of 115 wins against only five defeats. He easily crushed the field in the 2004 Olympics to bring home a gold medal and as a pro, Ward proved to be impossible to beat, winning every single one of his 32 career contests.
At one point, Ward was considered the consensus number one fighter in the world. After defeating former pound-for-pound star Sergey Kovalev in back-to-back fights, Ward abruptly walked away from the sport. He’s since left the door slightly open for a comeback but for the most part, he’s remained steadfast in his decision to walk away from the game.
This past year, Ward was rewarded for his boxing excellence with an induction into the Boxing Hall of Fame. But while Ward has always been universally respected and celebrated, Porter simply believes it isn’t enough.
“He was under looked and everybody expected this big blast when he came to the pro game and it really wasn’t a big blast and people started to really doubt what he could do. But after he won the super middleweight tournament, people started to recognize who he was. He went virtually his entire life without losing any matches.”
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Shawn Porter Gives Jaron Ennis The Highest Of Praise: “He’s A Welterweight Roy Jones Jr.”
By: Hans Themistode
Shawn Porter has heard the buzz. But up until recently, he hasn’t exactly paid close attention to it.
Following each Jaron Ennis ring appearance, the boxing world would mention him as the next big star in the welterweight division. The Philadelphia native would dance around his opponents until he ended things with one game-changing shot.
Recently, Ennis (27-0, 25 KOs) was tasked with who many believed was his toughest opponent to date in former 140-pound belt holder Sergey Lipinets. Not only did Ennis take care of business against the long-time contender in impressive fashion, stopping him in the sixth round, but he barely broke a sweat while doing so.
After tuning in and giving the 23-year-old his undivided attention, Porter was left with no choice but to compare Ennis to one of the greatest fighters to ever lace up a pair of gloves.
“He’s a welterweight Roy Jones Jr.,” said Porter on his podcast The Porter Way Podcast Clips.
Porter, a former two-time welterweight world champion, couldn’t help but notice the speed, power and relative ease in which it took Ennis to take care of business against someone who is normally a durable opponent. In the mind of many, they’re intrigued by what Ennis will be able to do once he faces the elite of the division. Facing Lipinets is one thing, but taking on the likes of Porter, WBO belt holder Terence Crawford and ultimately, unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., is another thing entirely.
With that said, much like Jones Jr., Porter remembers a time when the same highlight reel level knockouts Jones Jr. would score against lesser competition, would continue to happen even after facing the best of the best. While many believe at the age of 23, Ennis is the future of the welterweight division, in Porter’s opinion, if Ennis is given the opportunity right now, the future could be a lot sooner than many realize.
“Roy did it just like that. When they stepped up the competition he continued to do it just like that,” explained Porter. “I’m a Showtime fighter. It don’t matter what time of day it is. When the lights come on, I’m ready. I don’t care what I was doing two hours before the fight, when the lights come on, I’m ready and that’s how Jaron is.
“Jaron is just one of those guys where, if you put him in the ring with Shawn Porter, you put him in the ring with Errol Spence Jr., and we can all say that he may not be ready yet, but it’s just one of those situations where he gets in the ring and tonight is that night for him.”
