‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter is coming off one of the best performances of his career as he took on the undefeated WBA welterweight champion, Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman, in a fight of the year candidate. The fight was was closely contested and at the end of the twelfth round, all three judges scored it the same, 115-113 for Keith Thurman. While the decision did not go Porter’s way, many felt the bout could have been scored either way and due to the positive attention regarding the fight, it’s a match that calls for a rematch.

In part 1 of my “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Shawn Porter, I discuss with him his fight with Thurman and get his thoughts on the decision. Porter also talks about getting hit by Keith’s power shots and if he was ever hurt in the bout. Additionally, Shawn gives his thoughts on Thurman being able to handle his pressure and if he think he will get a rematch. Here is what Shawn Porter had to say.

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Jenna J: How are you doing, Shawn?

Shawn Porter: I’m doing good, almost over this soreness. I’m just trying to relax a little bit.

Jenna J: You had a heck of a fight with Keith Thurman last Saturday. How do you feel about the fight overall?

Shawn Porter: I feel pretty good. The feedback from the fight and all the praise that both Keith and I have gotten is awesome. Keith and I talked about this fight a long time ago and we said that we wanted it to be big and I think we made it bigger than anyone could have ever dreamt it would have been.

Jenna J: Was there anything that surprised you about Keith Thurman?

Shawn Porter: No, nothing surprised me at all. From his punching power to the way he threw his punches and the punches that he threw, there were no surprises at all. I was really ready for everything that he had for me. He hit me with some clean shots and I hit him with some clean shots. I think overall, sometimes the judges don’t see the same thing that a majority of people see, and it seems in this case that they may have judged a little incorrectly, but I have to live with it.

Jenna J: Most people concluded that the fight could have gone either way. When you look at the fight, why do you feel you should have won?

Shawn Porter: I think from top to bottom I did everything. I think I controlled the pace of the fight, I controlled the ring, I was the more aggressive fighter, I threw more punches — I think I landed three punches less than him but I threw almost double what he threw. The work rate was up, I landed more jabs than he landed. I think overall I did everything that it took to win the fight and I didn’t get the decision.

Jenna J: From the opening bell to the finish you were on him, you had him pinned against the ropes. Were you surprised that he didn’t fold to your pressure?

Shawn Porter: Just before you called for the interview I was thinking to myself, “Man that kid was in some shape.” I’m always in shape and I’m always ready to go far and beyond what it takes to win a match and I don’t know if he slowed down at all but he definitely was right there with me all the way to the end. My hat goes off to him and his camp for training very well and getting ready for this fight even after going through what he went through with the car accident.

Jenna J: A lot of people that gave close rounds to Keith saw him land one or two really solid shots at the end of the round, a round that you controlled. Did any of the big shots that he hit you with hurt you?

Shawn Porter: I think that may just have separated us in the fight, he was able sneak in some really clean shots that were very visible to any eye and he may have stolen a round or two in the fight. As you could see, I never went down from his punches, so that’s just a testament to my training and the blessed body that I have to be able to withstand such heavy clean shots from a heavy puncher like that.

Jenna J: The fight was the highest rated boxing telecast of the year. Does that say that this fight has to have a rematch?

Shawn Porter: I think this fight has to have a rematch because it was just awesome. We did what boxing needed us to do, we got in there and we fought, we fought hard. Two guys putting everything on the line, that’s what boxing used to be about and we were trying to make a statement that this is where we are bringing boxing back to.

I firmly believe that this fight deserves a rematch. Everyone in the crowd thought the same and even Keith after hearing the boos in the stands, he felt that he had to fight me again to make this a more convincing win for him. At any rate, I hope we get the rematch because I think it will be a bigger fight, it will be even more anticipated than this one, which was really big. We’ll put up some more big numbers and that’s what boxing is about.

Jenna J: Shawn, do you want the rematch with Keith Thurman next and if you do, can you tell the fans why you want it?

Shawn Porter: I want a rematch. Yes, I want a rematch cause it’s hard for me to say I lost the fight and I really wanted to win that fight, so I’d love to do it again.