By Jake Donovan
Their originally scheduled March 12 showdown was likely to come in front of a sold-out crowd. In its first day of ticket sales, it appears that Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter are looking at a similar setting for its rescheduled welterweight title fight.
The pair of top-rated welterweights will meet June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Tickets officially went on sale to the general public beginning Thursday morning, but the results from the pre-sale already had event handlers enthusiastic that they had a hit on their hands.
“The pre-sale was a record for boxing at the Barclays Center,” promoter Lou DiBella informed BoxingScene.com. “Tickets are flying today.”
Tickets are moving at an aggressive pace for one of the more anticipated fights of 2016, which will air live in primetime on free-to-air CBS. Already favorable sales and purchase commitments figure to pick up considerably following a press conference scheduled for Tuesday on location to formally announce the event.
Thurman (26-0, 22KOs) will fight at Barclays for just the second time in his career. The scenario comes about after the Clearwater, Florida native was forced to withdraw from the previously scheduled March 12 headliner at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. due to injuries sustained in a car accident in late February.
As the venue was not available for the rescheduled date, the decision was made to bring the event to Barclays, as DiBella already had a hold on the venue.
Porter (26-1-1, 16KOs) has also made just one previous appearance at the new boxing hotspot, although it came in the most memorable moment of his pro career. The fighting pride of Akron, Ohio – who now lives and trains in Las Vegas – won a welterweight title at the venue, a rousing 12-round win over Devon Alexander in their Dec. ’13 clash.
One successful defense came of the reign, a 4th round stoppage of Paul Malignaggi in Apr. ’14 before conceding the belt to unbeaten Kell Brook later that August. Two wins have followed, including a unanimous decision victory over Adrien Broner last June in Las Vegas, live in primetime on free-to-air NBC.
Both fighters enter the anticipated headliner on the heels of lengthy layoffs. Porter will have been out of the ring for just over a year by fight night, while Thurman hasn’t fought since a 7th round stoppage of Luis Collazo last July in Tampa, Florida. The bout launched the debut of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on ESPN, coming four months after Thurman topped the first ever PBC card which aired live in primetime on NBC.
His shoulder has once again been tapped to kick off another series, with boxing in primetime on CBS for the first time in nearly 40 years. The network has previously run Saturday and Sunday afternoon editions of PBC events in 2015.
Despite the long layoff of both fighters, the matchup remains in high demand. It is also supported by a strong co-feature attraction, as Jesus Cuellar defends his featherweight title versus former three-division champion Abner Mares.
The rock-solid doubleheader will feature a deeper supporting cast as the event draws nearer. For now, it’s enough to drive ticket sales. The event was given an added boost after the preceding weekend was recently freed up, as Miguel Cotto – who planned to headline a June 18 show at Barclays – has since withdrew his submission and will instead focus on a ring return in the fall.
It mattered little whether or not he kept the date; the June 25 show was the strongest game in town, as proven by a banner first day at the box office.
“When you make a great card that people want to see, they will come,” DiBella points out.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
