1️⃣ MORE MONTHS!! it has #FightOfTheYear written on it. Do not miss!!! #SpencePorter #PBConFOX #Blessed #ThePorterWay pic.twitter.com/LtgF2u8y8w
– ShowtimeShawn Porter (@ShowtimeShawnP) 28 August 2019
Three of the four world welterweight championships in pro boxing are held by Americans and two of them will unify at the Staples Center on September 28 when IBF champion Errol Spence Jr clashes with fellow WBC Shawn Porter.
Title unification bouts like these are all the rage in the sport. The US also has WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford and, until this summer, claimed a clean sweep of belts in the division.
Keith Thurman lost his WBA (Super) title to regular champion and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao on points in July. The fight between Spence Jr and the undefeated Porter, however, is how this heavyweight class is dominated by Americans.
Going into their fight in LA, industry-leading magazine The Ring has US boxers occupy five of the top six spots in their world rankings for welterweight. Spence Jr. topped the charts ahead of Crawford, then Pacquiao, Thurman and Porter dropped to fifth place – just ahead of Danny Garcia.
These rankings, which each boxing authority or organization also makes for themselves, help shape the bets on fights. Considering he won all of his previous 25 matches, Paddy Power’s Spence Jr v Porter odds has “The Truth” as a hot favorite.
As well as using industry rankings, there are also key lines to consider around this all-America fight. Spence Jr. and Porter have both fought England’s Kell Brook in last few years, but with very different results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUsNA3ln4Sc
Porter used to be the IBF welterweight champion but lost the title on points to the Briton by majority decision after a 2014 encounter when 12 rounds went full. Brook then lost the ropes in being knocked out in the 11th round on his Atlantic side by Spence Jr
The defeat by Brook is The first porter in the paid rating and he lost again on points to WBA welterweight champion Thurman three fights later. Although his career has since gotten back on course by defeating Garcia for the WBC belt and defending it against Cuban Yordenis Ugas, Porter is still considered the underdog in this fight as a 9/2 outsider.
With a pro record of 30 wins, two losses and a draw, the Ohio native Porter lacks the unbeaten streak that Spence Jr. has delivered to the table. That allowed “Showtime” to prove it all in their bouts.
Since overthrew Brook in his hometown of Sheffield, England, Spence Jr successfully defended his IBF welterweight title three times. Two of them were against fellow Americans who no longer stand out in the rankings Lamont Peterson and Mikey Garcia.
The latter took Spence Jr. to the judges after 11 straight stoppages from his previous opponent. His previous string of knockouts and retirements also made him a decent favourite over Porter.
Whoever raised their hands at the end of their fight, one thing was certain. Welterweight boxing is in great shape in the US with real deep power to the division with a future all-American fight for the belt guaranteed.
