A look back at the five finest moments in the career of the illustrious welterweight great.
Shawn Porter
“Showtime” Shawn Porter has had an illustrious boxing career.
Since his pro debut 13 years ago, Porter has displayed unparalleled staying power at the highest level of the sport, becoming a two-time world welterweight champion and beating a who’s who of top 147-pounders during that span.
Coached by his father, Kenny, the 34-year-old Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) has earned accolades as not only one of the most accomplished fighters in the game, but also one of its most exciting, endearing himself to fans with his all-action style in the ring, and humble demeanor outside out of it.
Below are five of Porter’s best performances:
5 PAULIE MALIGNAGGI
Date: April 19, 2014
Location: D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C.
At Stake: Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Title
Records at the time: Porter 23-0-1 (14 KOs) Malignaggi 33-5 (7 KOs)
Result: Porter TKO 4
Significance: Porter’s father and trainer, Kenny Porter, planned for his son to walk through Malignaggi in the first defense of the belt he won from Devon Alexander in December 2013. An efficient, balanced, double-fisted beatdown was the result. Porter’s jab cut Malignaggi below his left eye in the first round and he hammered him many times with a variety of blows in the second and third before twice flooring Malignaggi in the fourtH to finish the two-division champion off. Porter’s left to the body followed by a right to the head caused the first knockdown, with a leaping left hook initiating a finishing barrage that left Malignaggi in a heap against the ropes.
4 ADRIEN BRONER
Date: June 20, 2015
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
At Stake: No titles
Records at the time: Porter 25-1-1 (16 KOs) Broner 30-1 (22 KOs).
Result: Porter UD 12
Significance: Porter showed off his ability to dictate the pace over the course of a brutally physical fight with Broner. Porter was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards after nine rounds (86-85, 87-84 and 90-81) in this 144-pound catchweight bout. Porter’s father Kenny then told his son, “Give me the right hand behind the jab.” At the 2:32 mark of the 10th round, Porter staggered Broner into the ropes with a crisp right to the chin over a double jab before delivering further punishment. The rally energized Porter for a sweep of the 10th and 11th, helping “Showtime” to overcome a 12th-round knockdown in a victory during which he out-landed Broner in total punches (149-88), power shots (99-68) and jabs (50-20).
3 ANDRE BERTO
Date: April 22, 2017
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
At Stake: No titles
Records at the time: Porter 26-2-1 (16 KOs) Berto 31-4 (24 KOs)
Result: Porter TKO 9
Significance: Porter mauled Berto from beginning to end of their nine-round brawl, flooring the two-time champion once in the third round and twice more in the last to rebound from his Fight-Of-The-Year caliber loss to Keith Thurman in June 2016. “Showtime” combined bludgeoning left hooks to the head and body throughout, plowing forward with a relentless and effective aggression that caused Berto to fight from an uncomfortable distance. With the victory, Porter became the No. 1 contender for a return bout with Thurman.
2 Yordenis Ugas
Date: March 9, 2019
Location: Dignity Health Sports Park , Carson
At Stake: Porter’s WBC Welterweight World Title
Records at the time: Porter 29-2-1 (17 KOs) Ugas 23-3 (11 KOs).
Result: Porter SD 12
Significance: Kenny Porter advised his son to “move” and “out-box” Ugas, and “Showtime” followed those instructions, adjusting and adapting seemingly every round. Porter alternately pot-shot from distance over the first six rounds to off-set and befuddle Ugas, out-landing him in total punches (144-128) and jabs (65-49) and being even in power shots (79 each). By winning 115-113 and 116-112 on two cards, with the third scoring it for Ugas, 117-111, Porter overcame a crafty 2008 Cuban Olympic bronze medalist who had been largely avoided due to his guile—and survived a 10th-round cut over his right eye resulting from a legal punch. A frustrated Ugas uncharacteristically plodded and walked into shots, at one point standing in the middle of the ring and imploring Porter to stand and fight. Ugas rebounded to win four straight, including a WBA title-winning split-decision over Abel Ramos and a unanimous decision over the legendary Manny Pacquiao last August.
1 DANNY GARCIA
Date: September 8, 2018
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
At Stake: Vacant WBC Welterweight World Title
Records at the time: Porter 28-2-1 (17 KOs) Garcia 34-1 (24 KOs)
Result: Porter UD 12
Significance: Porter became a 147-pound world titlist for the second time with the victory over Garcia, a two-division champion in his own right. Porter out-maneuvered Garcia, despite being denied the full complement of sparring due to an injured left hand damaged in the sixth round of a unanimous decision over Adrian Granados 10 months earlier. The counter-punching Garcia was forced to play a guessing game from a distance until the 10th round, when Porter engaged from close range, all the while preventing “Swift” from threading the needle and landing a big shot. Garcia was staggered by an 11th-round right hand and forced to clinch Porter, who turned in the biggest victory of his career. Scores read 115-113 (twice) and 116-112 as Porter out-landed Garcia in total punches (180-168).
For a closer look at Shawn Porter, check out his fighter page.
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