The rollercoaster ride of a professional boxer comes in many phases. From the early learning curves to the eventual cross into the promise land that a select group get to experience, the pugilistic pursuit is a grind that is both taxing and eventful. It takes much mental fortitude and strength to continually push onward but if a fighter can find a way to hang tough throughout it all the eventual rewards will usually end up being well beyond gratifying.
At the moment undefeated Jr. Middleweight Shawn Porter is at a rare and precious moment in his young career. Sporting an 11-0 record with 9 knockouts, Porter is just now beginning to get a taste of the spotlight that comes with being a rising force in the game and he is next scheduled for a December 18th ShoBox: The New Generation appearance in Hinckley, Minnesota. It will most likely cap off what has so far been a year full of discovery and realization for the aspiring prospect but one needs to take a look back at his early years to appreciate Porter’s ambitions towards the sport.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Porter claims to have had a pretty standard and positive childhood. For as far as he can remember he was always into sports such as football and basketball and remembers getting his competitive drive from his two older brothers. Boxing wasn’t something so much that Porter remembers coming across; it was always instilled within his family and pretty much a way of life.
“I didn’t discover boxing,” Porter points out. “Boxing discovered me. My dad was a boxer when he was young. And he got back into it in his twenties when we were babies. He would take us to the gym with him and eventually when we got a little older, like five or six, he started training us. I was four years old the first time I sparred.”
The sport of boxing isn’t for those without thick skin and there has to be a deep and burning passion inside of someone to stay close to the hectic nature of the game. Porter remembers that his early years were all about adapting to the game and that the love and desire later followed.
“I started too young to have any surprises,” he continues on. “I’ve always had a very competitive spirit but when I was fifteen I competed in my first international duel and after that I was hooked. Traveling and representing the U.S. in other countries was what I loved most about amateur boxing. It’s interesting to see all of the different styles that are around the world. I saw a lot of awkward and tough opponents and I feel I just about saw it all as an amateur.”
The amateurs taught Porter much and on October 3rd, 2008 he would make his professional debut with a first round stoppage over Norman Johnson in Salisbury, Maryland. With just two years under his belt as a professional, Porter is still fresh in many areas but concedes that he has adapted well.
“I’ve learned a lot,” Porter claims of his time as a pro. “I think probably the number one thing I had to learn and adjust to very quickly was the fact that it’s a fight, and unlike the amateurs, the ref isn’t in there to protect you. You have to fight through the holding, the head butts, and all that type of stuff. You have to stay focused and on your game at all times. One slip up and it could be over. So my dad and I work on a lot of mental techniques, and we prepare to fight the whole fight, until the final bell sounds.”
So far the final bell has only sounded twice for Porter, as he has been accustomed to closing the show impressively against his opposition. Still, outside of gracing ESPN’s airwaves against non-descript opposition, Porter was somewhat unknown outside of his current Akron, Ohio residence before a recent chance encounter just a few months ago with one of the sport’s biggest stars, Manny Pacquiao.
Just weeks ago Pacquiao delivered one of the most impressive wins of his career with a twelfth round stoppage over Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. What many don’t realize is just how essential Porter was towards that fight, as he spent time prior serving as one of Pacquiao’s chief sparring partners for the fight in Baguio City, Philippines. Sparring with Pacquiao and connecting with the multi-division champion was something that opened up the twenty-two year old’s eyes in many ways and he left the experience with a whole new appreciation for what it takes to truly succeed at the highest levels in the sport.
“I saw what it takes to become a champion,” Porter says of being around Pacquiao. “I have a bar now, and I know in my heart when I’m not working hard enough. He was very appreciative of the hard work I put in with him and I would say I definitely formed a bond with him.”
After coming back to the states Porter would get back to work on November 21st with a 4th round stoppage over Jerome Ellis in Tunica, Mississippi. Porter was in the news heavily over the past few months due to his time in camp with Pacquiao, who is an icon in his native Philippines. Everything has seemed to suddenly take off for the young prospect and his next pit stop if the aforementioned December 18th appearance on Showtime.
“I’m getting closer to my dream,” Porter stated with enthusiasm of his upcoming fight. “This is just another step up the ladder. I haven’t taken any time off since my camp with Pacquiao and my last fight so I’ll be more than ready to show off on Showtime”
When pressed further for more facets about his persona, Porter was both informative and modest when assessing his life and abilities. As a fighter he feels that his speed is one of his biggest assets and admits that he never has lost his love for his other favorite sports, football and basketball. His family and friends are very dear to him and at the end of the day you get the sense that Shawn Porter is like many other men in the world in that he’s working tirelessly towards his goals while still stopping to appreciate the simplicities in life.
In taking an honest look at Porter’s career you sense an athlete whose life has changed dramatically in a short period of time. From training intensely with the world’s best pound for pound fighter to an upcoming nationally televised showcase, Porter has been thrust into the spotlight far sooner than many would have expected. At the end of the day Porter concedes that the weight of the world may be on his shoulders, but he simply wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Yeah there definitely is pressure to succeed. I had a pretty stellar amateur career, and that status has followed me into the pros, so I have a lot of eyes on me. But it’s nothing I can’t handle. At the end of the day I still have to perform and do what I do, so in the end the pressure is more of a motivator. I have the dedication and it’s all about how far one is willing to go in order to get what he or she wants. I won’t stop until I get there.”
