Former IBF welterweight champion, ‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter is coming off of a twelve round decision loss to reigning world champion, Keith Thurman. The bout was a close and competitive fight of the year candidate and while most fans would love to see an immediate rematch, that is a fight that is not likely to place until next year.
In part 2 of my “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Shawn Porter, I discuss with him his future going forward and when he sees himself returning to the ring. Porter talks about other possible match ups in the weight class and who he would like to step into the ring with if he can’t get a rematch. Additionally, Porter talks about the return of Manny Pacquiao and a possible Pacquiao-Broner fight. Here is what Shawn Porter had to say.
Jenna J: How soon do you see yourself getting back in the ring?
Shawn Porter: My dad and I spoke a little yesterday very briefly and we’re looking at maybe three months before we get back in the ring.
Jenna J: If it’s not Keith Thurman next, who would you like?
Shawn Porter: I don’t know, we’ll have to see. As you guys can see, I am a world-class fighter, I can contend with any fighter out there. We definitely don’t want to take any steps back, hopefully we can go after another title and we’ll see from there.
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Jenna J: What do you think of the welterweight division as a whole right now?
Shawn Porter: It’s been popping for a long time and this fight was supposed to be the fight to decide who the number one guy was, currently it is Keith. I still feel very firmly that I’m right behind Keith, if not ahead of him. You can put any of the top ten fighters together and you could make a match and it would be an awesome fight, a fight for the ages.
Jenna J: Do you see either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao making a return to the ring?
Shawn Porter: I didn’t think Manny would return at all. I had a small conversation with him and he said that he felt that it was it. The name that I saw was Adrien Broner, so we’ll see if that fight happens. Whatever the case may be, maybe he feels that he can give it another go and I think we were never convinced that Mayweather was all the way gone yet. Those guys are still the kings of the weight class but the kings don’t fight, the young guys are the ones that go out and put on the shows and do the hard work.
Jenna J: Being that you’ve sparred with Manny Pacquiao and fought against Broner, if those two fight, who do you think wins?
Shawn Porter: I think Manny Pacquiao wins that fight, I think he’s got too much for Adrien Broner. I think over the course of twelve rounds Manny would catch up to him and win that fight decisively.
Jenna J: Is there anything you wish you had done differently in the fight with Keith Thurman?
Shawn Porter: I’ve been reflecting and you may be surprised at my response, but I felt there were just a few times throughout the fight where I stepped back right in front of him and I kind of waited to see what he was gonna do and I think those may have been opportunities where I should have been throwing combinations or jabs. That was really the only thing I could think of.
My dad and I spoke about the fight and we agreed that I did everything that I could do, everything that I was asked to do both in the ring at the fight and everything leading up to the fight. I never steered away from the game plan and at the end of the day, when you get a result like this, you just have to live with it.
Jenna J: Is there any message you want to pass along to all the boxing fans out there?
Shawn Porter: My heart goes out to you guys. It’s been a long journey and definitely a long time waited for that fight. I’m glad that I was able to get in there and do everything that I did. As you guys can see, I don’t just fight with my skills, I try to fight with my heart as well as my brain and I try to leave it all in the ring. I thank you guys for giving your support to me and my team. We’ll see you soon, God bless everyone.
Trust me, Manny is NEVER COMING BACK. He won’t come back because he has vowed to serve the Filipino people FULL TIME. When he proclaimed the Bradley 3 fight was his final fight, everyone from his team knew it was it. Arum is just using Pacquiao’s name for the benefit of his active fighters. Pacquiao bade goodbye to his beloved sport, sadly.
Mayweather never cared for the sport. I hope he stays retired. Porter and Thurman are the kings
Porter hurt Thurman in the body and historically, Thurman doesn’t cope well with body shots.
Shawn should’ve thrown more body shots and less head hunting
Throughout the fight that was exactly my thoughts