By Victor Salazar
New York - Welterweight Shawn Porter (26-2-1, 16 KO’s) is already training hard for his upcoming WBC final welterweight world title eliminator with Andre Berto (31-4, 23 KO’s), and the two former welterweight champions will collide at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on April 22nd. The fight will be televised by Showtime.
Porter has been out of the ring since losing a tough twelve round decision in a very competitive fight with WBC, WBA unified Keith Thurman last June, also at the Barclays Center.
Should Porter defeat Berto, he may get the chance to avenge his loss to Thurman.
Besides getting his hands again on Thurman, Porter has always wanted to avenge his loss to Kell Brook (36-1, 25 KO’s). Back in 2014, Porter dropped a close twelve round majority decision loss - and his IBF welterweight title - to Brook.
In late May, early June - Brook will make a mandatory defense against undefeated American Olympian Errol Spence (21-0, 18 KO’s).
While the fight will take place in Brook's hometown of Sheffield, Porter believes Spence will prevail and return back to the United States with the IBF title.
“I hope he can go over there and do the job,” Porter stated of Spence. "I think he can go over there and win the title. He has the tools. The crowd will get bigger and louder but I think he’ll feed off of that and he likes to shock people like myself.”
Porter is also rooting for Spence because he feels the unbeaten boxer will fight him should he win the belt. Both of them are advised by Al Haymon and fight under Premier Boxing Champions banner.
“I definitely think Errol would fight me - but I want him to win because Kell has one up on me. Kell is English and we’re Americans but I think that he can do it.”
