By Keith Idec
Danny Garcia has watched Shawn Porter’s last fight numerous times.
The former WBC welterweight champion takes more confidence from that footage every time he studies it. He isn’t impressed by Porter’s performance against Adrian Granados, especially since Granados really is a junior welterweight who fought Porter at welterweight for the opportunity and more money.
Porter defeated Granados by unanimous decision in their 12-rounder November 4 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The former IBF welterweight champ out-pointed Granados by the same score on each of the three cards (117-111), yet Garcia noticed plenty of flaws in Porter that night.
The 30-year-old Porter (28-2-1, 17 KOs), a Las Vegas resident raised in Akron, Ohio, hasn’t boxed since he defeated Granados. He’ll end a 10-month layoff when he steps into the ring to fight Garcia for the vacant WBC welterweight championship September 8 at Barclays Center (Showtime).
Philadelphia’s Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs), who’s also 30, feels fans and media have given Porter a pass for what he considers a lackluster win against Granados.
“Boxing is crazy, because if I would’ve fought that dude and did 12 rounds with him, I would’ve got hell,” Garcia told a group of reporters. “Let’s be real. You know, he’s a smaller guy, coming up from 140. [Porter] probably was supposed to stop him.
“But, you know, I’ve been watching that fight. I’ve been watching that fight. You know, maybe he didn’t train hard. Maybe he underestimated him. But I’ve watched that fight a lot and I think there’s a lot of things that I watched that’s gonna help me in this fight.”
Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs), who’s ranked No. 1 by the WBC, and Porter (28-2-1, 17 KOs), who’s ranked No. 2, will fight for the unclaimed WBC welterweight title Keith Thurman relinquished late in April due to a hand injury that further delayed his comeback from elbow surgery.
Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs, 1 NC), of Clearwater, Florida, has beaten Garcia and Porter. The WBA welterweight champion hasn’t fought since defeating Garcia by split decision in their 12-round, 147-pound title unification fight nearly 17 months ago at Barclays Center.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
