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Shawn Porter-Andre Berto crossroads welterweight fight close to being finalized
By
Mike Coppinger January 12, 2017 12:55 am
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By:
Mike Coppinger | January 12, 2017 12:55 am
Shawn Porter impressed, even in defeat to Keith Thurman, but he was on the shelf for the second half of 2016 following the fight of the year candidate.
Now, Porter is inching toward a return bout, and it’s an intriguing one.
A person close to the negotiations informed USA TODAY Sports that a crossroads bout between Porter and Andre Berto is likely to be finalized soon for the first quarter of 2017. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of contract talks.
There’s no location at this time, but the fight will headline either a Premier Boxing Champions show or a Showtime-televised event.
“It’s a fight my team has been wanting for months now,” Porter told USA TODAY Sports via text message Wednesday. “I think it’s a great fight for the fans and the sport. Not often two very explosive fighters line up against each other.
“I prayed tonight at church that the fight gets made soon. Looking forward to competing against a great fighter in Berto.”
Porter, USA TODAY Sports’ No. 6 welterweight in boxing’s most stacked division, will be the favorite, but Berto is the one coming off a victory.
The former welterweight titleholder knocked out Victor Ortiz in April, but was sidelined the rest of the year as he waited on a bout with Danny Garcia that never materialized.
Both Berto (31-4, 24 KOs) and Porter come forward, and their styles likely will mix for a fan-friendly affair. It’s also a fight both men desperately must win.
For Porter (26-2-1, 16 KOs), no fighter can afford to lose two consecutive bouts in boxing; not if they want to stay on the main event level as an A-side. And Berto is still on the comeback trail.
The 33-year-old has scored just four wins in his last eight bouts, including a shutout defeat to Floyd Mayweather. Berto packs a punch, though, and against a fighter like Porter that applies non-stop pressure, he’ll have ample opportunity to land a big shot.
Porter, 29, is also a former champion, and owns wins over Adrien Broner, Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi.
His June title fight with Thurman was a tantalizing battle, with each man trading blows in the center of the ring. And it’s one Thurman barely eked out via decision, with Porter improving his stock in defeat.
If the bout indeed comes to fruition, one man will move on in the talent-laden 147-pound division, while the other takes a big step back
Shawn Porter-Andre Berto crossroads welterweight fight close to being finalized
#LetsGoEddy
..chatted with him for a few, shook his hand, and took a pic
at how Floyd JUMPED out of his chair in that interview I posted yesterday to say that Ward loss and he put a whole lot on shytting on Virgil GRJ etc. I ain't saying gotta be Pc
