Brook vs Spence Jr: Shawn Porter praises Errol Spence Jr after 'The Truth's' win over Kell Brook
Sunday 28 May 2017 11:23, UK
Shawn Porter warned the rest of the welterweight division they are now up against a "unique" talent in Errol Spence Jr.
The American was ringside to see his compatriot take the IBF world title off Kell Brook, forcing an 11th-round stoppage at Bramall Lane on Saturday night.
Porter lost the title to Brook in August 2014 but believes the likes of WBC and WBA holder Keith Thurman are now up against a new star in the form of Spence Jr.
I am not surprised at what he did to Kell. I know Errol and I have seen him fight and I was not surprised at all at what he did.
"I am not surprised at what he did to Kell," Porter told Sky Sports. "I know Errol, and I have seen him fight and I was not surprised at all at what he did.
"He's a very unique kid and a unique athlete. You would think he is going to get better and I am not sure the rest of the division know what they've got on their hands now.
"I hope they were watching because if they want to fight Errol, they will have seen they have to 'fight' him. Errol doesn't back down, stop or quit and you have to fight him if you want to beat him."
Porter admits he is unlikely to take on Spence Jr due to his father and trainer, Kenny, playing a part in his amateur career.
But even though he knows the Dallas fighter well, he claims to have a seen a new side to the 27-year-old.
"Sometimes you think it's going to work out but it doesn't," he said.
"This one wasn't a surprise but to do it over Kell, in his own backyard, was big. This was a skillful match-up and it just slowly turned into him taking over. In front of Kell's fans.
"We knew you've got to beat him [Spence Jr] skill for skill, then heart for heart and I am not saying Kell didn't have heart, he just didn't have as much as Errol."
Porter also paid tribute to former foe Brook, who took a knee in the 10th before his trainer Dominic Ingle called it off in the 11th due to an eye injury.
"The eye was definitely a problem," he said. "He'd gone down the round before and once it has swollen up, you are there trying to work out what you have to do to keep this guy off me.
"He did the best he could, in my opinion. The good thing is he didn't get completely wiped out or knocked out on his feet or anything like that and it even takes heart to take a knee. Respect Kell for that."
