Adrien Broner v Shawn Porter: A preview of Saturday's catchweight clash in Las Vegas
Sunday 21 June 2015 10:38, UK
Former world champions Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter clash in a high-stakes bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports.
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Background
Adrien Broner spent the early part of his career blasting out opponents at super-featherweight and eventually becoming WBO champion of the division by halting Vicente Martin Rodriguez inside three rounds in November 2011.
He added world lightweight and welterweight belts to his collection and was cultivating a reputation as 'the new Mayweather' with his brash handling of the media, but it all came crashing down in December 2013 when he lost his unbeaten record to the heavy-hitting Marcos Maidana.
Broner has rebuilt steady with a trio of points victories back at super-lightweight and he will face Porter, whose only defeat came in surrendering his IBF welterweight strap to Kell Brook last summer via a close points decision, at a catch-weight of 144lbs.
Porter's all-action style and the sheer volume of punches he throws has won him many fans. He beat Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi in his two fights previous to the Brook defeat and at the time of writing is slight favourite to deal Broner's career a further blow.
What the fighters say
Adrien Broner: "With Floyd Mayweather in there, he teaches me a lot. He's teaching me. We talk all day and he comes to watch me train all the time."
Shawn Porter: "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."
What the experts say
Johnny Nelson's prediction: Porter on points
You pick a rhythm when you are fighting someone and the problem is that Porter's is very unreadable and very awkward to deal with.
Spencer Oliver's prediction: Porter on points
Porter's got such a busy work-rate and his style is all wrong for Broner, who likes a bit of space.
Jim Watt's prediction: Porter on points
Broner lost to Marcos Maidana, so he obviously came up with the answers, pressure him, stayed on him and because he is naturally bigger, I can see Porter doing the same.
Glenn McCrory's prediction: Porter on points
If Porter wins, then the Brook-Porter rematch would be a brilliant one to have in England. Porter gave Kell the opportunity and Kell's a classy enough guy to give him the opportunity back.
What happened this week?
Just what we expected. By his own noisy standards, Broner had been rather quiet until the press conference, when he faced off with Porter's father and exchanged some heated words.
Some guy called Floyd Mayweather presided over the weigh-in and although 'Money' shook hands with Porter when Broner had refused to, he's been helping and advising Broner ahead of the fight.
Other than that, the weigh-in passed without too much incident and any fears that Porter would look drained getting down to 144lbs appeared to be unfounded.
Watch Broner v Porter and Andre Ward v Paul Smith TONIGHT live on Sky Sports 1 from 1.30am
