Welterweight Shawn Porter (25-1-1, 16 KO’s) has ridiculed Adrien Broner(30-1, 22 KO’s) ahead of their June 20th meeting in Las Vegas for refusing to talk about the 144 lb. catch-weight clause that has been implemented into this fight for Broner’s benefit.
As reported on SkySports.com, Porter echoed sentiments he initially voiced during a telephone interview on the June 15th episode of Tha Boxing Voice’s twice-weekly podcast.
“Here we are doing everything we need to do as professionals to be on weight, be on point, be 100% and the ‘kid’ who chose to make the contracted weight 144 wishes not to talk about the contracted weight, wishes not to talk about any rehydration clause, wants to avoid any conversation involving weight limits or anything like that.”
Not only has Porter been hamstrung by the additional three pounds he will have to lose, but also by a rehydration clause that says he cannot put on more than ten pounds after the weigh-in. It is his body’s habit to put on around fifteen after making the standard welterweight limit, so Porter is being constricted in every conceivable way when it comes to the scales. The frustration is evident.
“And the more and more we talk about it, the more and more the animosity sets in because I’m a professional doing what I do at this high level for so long and my weight class is 147 for so long.”
“You want to move up into my weight, then move up. Don’t be scared. Don’t be worried. Don’t be afraid. Put your skill on the line along with your record. Put it all on the line at 147. Don’t put it at 144, then not want to talk about it.”
All signs point to Broner’s tentativeness in going up against another top-level welterweight, having started his career at super-featherweight.
The last time he tried this trick he was manhandled by the marauding Marcos Maidana en route to his first professional loss.
Porter has the skills and physicality to do the same thing, and so Broner is doing all he can before the opening bell to constrain his rival both physically and mentally. Imposing a hard weight cut is the right way to go about it. It’s a pity he is so tight-lipped on the matter.
