Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KO’s) recently commented on the longstanding rivalry between Brits Amir Khan (31-3, 19 KO’s) and IBF World welterweight champion Kell Brook (35-0, 24 KO’s), revealing he has his eye on the winner should the fight eventually get made.
Speaking with Michelle Joy Phelps of Behind The Gloves, Porter, who was dethroned by Brook last August in his first career defeat, seemed unready to let go of the animosity he felt after losing his belt in just his second defense.
He said he is unable to look at a match involving Brook objectively, and backed Khan to victory should they meet.
“It doesn’t matter who it is; I’ll always go with them over Kell Brook. Normally I put my biased opinion aside but with him, I’m not. I think Khan beats him.”
What are we to make of that? Does Porter legitimately feel Khan’s speed and boxing ability would be enough to overcome Brook’s precision and strength? Or is he just picking against his only conqueror as an insult?
Either way he said he would like to face the victor, which would presumably entail an opportunity to regain the IBF belt he held for such a brief window.
“It’d be a good fight. If I was guaranteed the winner, I’d go over there, show my face at ringside and be ready to take care of the winner.”
But he is not putting all of his eggs in one basket like Amir Khan has in his fruitless pursuit of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Porter is ready and willing to take on the dangerous assignments at 147 lbs.
“Personally I’ll consider a fight with anyone in the top five. If I said top 10 then that leaves too many holes and too many names so I’m saying the top five. That’s where the best competition and the biggest fights are.”
“It’s where I feel I belong, fighting anyone in the top five. That includes Amir Khan, Keith Thurman, Timothy Bradley, Ruslan Provodnikov and Marcos Maidana, even though he hasn’t fought in a year. This 147 lb. division is stacked.”
That is a roll-call of the top names around, and Porter is seemingly attempting to establish his claim as the top welterweight in the post-Mayweather era.
Having lost to Brook in what was probably the first true 50/50 encounter for both men, he has rebounded well by bulldozing late replacement Eric Bone and took the flamboyant Adrien Broner to school for twelve rounds this past June in a catch-weight bout of 144 lbs.
He has shown his willingness to take the tough fights and now all he needs is a willing dance partner with a big name. WBA champ Keith Thurman would make for the brightest fireworks. I just hope he doesn’t wait around for Brook vs. Khan before he makes his next move.
