Undefeated welterweight rising star “Showtime” Shawn Porter (18-0-0, 13 KOs) stopped by dBoxing Source Radio show last Tuesday to update his fans about the status of his career and share his thoughts on some of boxing’s blazing topics.
The 24-year-old Porter, known to Filipino boxing fans as Pacquiao’s chief sparring partner against Miguel Cotto in 2010 and Shane Mosley last year, was hailed the 2011 NABF Prospect of the Year, after capturing their welterweight belt last Febuary against Agnes Adjaho.
Unfortunately, “the business of boxing” has kept Porter away from the ring since then, and has taken some of the momentum he had built up from appearing on SHOBox and ESPN, as well as the hype he got from giving Pacquiao the best work among his sparring partners.
“A lot of things us young fighters aren’t aware of or expect in the game this soon, I expected just to get out there, show my skills and be loved by everybody, but there’s another part of boxing us young guys aren’t really used to, and that’s the business side. So right now I guess my career is kind of on hold, because of the business side, but pretty soon, this is 2012. We’ll be geting right back at it, and hopefully shocking the world this year,” Shawn narrated.
Regardless, Porter has been training hard with the same kind of intensity he does each time with his father and trainer Kenny Porter, and his strength and conditioning coach Bobby Kaleal in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
With word leaking out that Cotto may be Pacquiao’s next opponent if a fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. can’t be made in May, Porter expressed little interest in seeing that match-up again.
“You know, I’m not sure how interesting that fight would be. I know the first fight was very interesting; I didn’t sit down until the fight was over and I had made it back to my hotel room after the fight. But to see it again is kind of those ‘here we go again’ type of things, you know? Not to take anything away from Cotto, but I’m more of a ‘been there done that’ type of person. Once I beat you, you’re done, you’re out of my life, I’m moving on,” Porter chimed in.
If it were up to him, Porter would love to fight in the Philippines in 2012, where he says he had some of the best memories of his life. To this day, Porter constantly receives messages and well wishes from Filipino boxing fans, something he is very appreciative of, and wishes he could give back by putting on a show in the Philippines.
Like many, he too is growing tired of the politics behind botched talks between Pacquiao and Mayweather, and wishes the fight to happen on May 5th. Asked who his pick is in case the two finally laced ’em up against each other, Porter was torn and had an interesting response.
To listen to what Shawn had to say and to the full interview, check out the latest episode of dBoxing Source Radio Show by clicking this link.
