In the fall of last year Shawn Porter began creating serious buzz for his role as a chief sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino legend was gearing up for a crucial bout with then WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and he and Porter spent many grueling rounds together in Baguio City in the Philippines.
Throughout camp Porter reportedly gave the General Santos City fighter tremendous work, enough to get serious praise from Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach. Pacquiao would end up defeating Cotto by way of sensation 12th round TKO at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and Porter came away with a newfound following in the sport. Reflecting on his time with Pacquiao, Porter was obviously grateful.
?I basically saw how a champion is made,? Porter told the Examiner last December. ?I saw him when he wasn?t in shape, and I saw what it takes to become a champion. I have a bar now, and I know in my heart when I?m not working hard enough. Before I met him I just thought he was a fast southpaw with a great left hand but he?s so much more. He?s humble and he has a beautiful faith in god that I admire.?
Porter would register back to back fourth round stoppages over Jerome Ellis and Jamar Patterson within the span of a month to close out 2009 and people connected to the sport began eyeing the 22-year old?s immediate future. What was around the corner for Porter was something unexpected, but sometimes necessary, that many emerging prospects often experience before crossing their proverbial pugilistic threshold.
On February 19th Porter would win a unanimous decision over Russell Jordan in Cleveland, Ohio on ESPN’s airwaves but he wasn?t able to register the emphatic performance that many were expecting of him. Coming into the fight Russell was a victim of five knockout losses yet Porter was unable to break through and match that feat. While certainly not exposed, Porter came away from the bout showing that he truly has room to grow in the sport.
To his credit Porter got back on track with successive stoppages over Raul Pinzon and Robert Kliewer in April and May and in just a few hours he will finding himself gracing the Showtime airwaves in a very intriguing clash with once-beaten Ray Robinson in Southaven, Mississippi as part of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader. This is Porter?s chance to restore the luster that was shaken with his victory over Jordan but when taking a closer look at Robinson you realize this is far from a lock.
The 24-year old Robinson hasn?t fought since December of last year, a fight in which he dropped a hard fought decision to Lafayette, Louisiana?s Brad Solomon. While in that fight Robinson was beaten to the punch and without answers as to how to figure out the elusive movement of Solomon, he was likely going up against one of the sport?s most promising talents. Solomon has ability that beguiles his two-year run as a professional and his follow up, shut out victories over capable South Florida talents Damian ?Devo? Frias and Puerto Rican puncher Kenny Galarza is a testament to such.
There is no shame in Robinson losing to someone like Solomon and heading into his bout with Porter he is being looked at as the opponent to the Akron, Ohio native. While on paper this may look like an undefeated prospect looking to boost his record against a man coming off of a loss, Robinson is a very smooth fighter and his length could give Porter fits.
This is far from an easy task for Porter and an upset isn?t out of question.
