Broner v Porter Rumours Gathering Pace

By Olly Campbell - 05/07/2015 - Comments

Multiple sources online and across social media are beginning to talk about a potential match-up between former IBF 147lb champion Shawn Porter (25-1-1, 16ko) and Floyd Mayweather wannabe Adrien Broner (30-1, 22ko).

The fight, potentially being talked about as a catchweight contest at 144lbs is sure to be an intriguing match-up should it take place and a June 20th date is being mooted by RingTV and in Boxrec’s forum.

Broner has had an easy time of things since dropping a decision to Marcos Maidana some 18 months ago. His last bout, against an out-of-sorts John Molina was a comparitive stroll in the park compared to that fight and the test the strong, stocky and marauding Porter is likely to present.

Porter himself has had just the one outing, a KO of Erick Bone, since losing his title to Britain’s Kell Brook nine months ago, and could do with a named scalp to push himself back into contention.

The idea is for the bout to take place as part of the June 20th PBC broadcast – a date Broner was already scheduled to box on. Over recent weeks and days he has been linked to fights with both Danny Garcia and Amir Khan – whom he had a confrontation with – yet this is the most credible rumour with regards to who his opponent will actually be.

I’m actually torn on my pick but I’m leaning towards Porter who for me is the stronger man. Porter has always seemed small in stature for a 147lb fighter but does not have any significant size or reach advantages over the Cincinnati motor mouth who won his first world title down at 130lbs.

For me the obviously more skillful fighter is Broner yet he had a close fight with Malignaggi who was destroyed by Porter less than a year later. His counter punching and ability to move and try and pick Porter off give him a slight edge in the skills department, yet I feel the bullying style of Porter and ability to cut off the ring and hurt Broner on the ropes seems the biggest danger for me.

I simply cannot see this fight happening at 147 as Maidana was too strong for Broner there and a similarly bully-boy style gave Adrien fits in that fight at times. Similarly I can’t see Porter boiling down to 140 – he has boxed at light middle in the past – so I’d imagine the 144 catch-weight is the most likely scenario.

Either way, nothing is yet confirmed, but it’s got potential to be a great little fight that will only help to strengthen the PBC brand that mastermind Al Haymon is taking forward as his “future vision” for boxing…

Watch this space….

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