Porter Leans To Thurman To Beat Garcia - Wants To Fight Winner

By Ryan Burton

BoxingScene.com recently caught up with former welterweight champion Shawn Porter.  The Las Vegas based, Ohio native has been inactive since a close decision loss to Keith Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs) in June.

The inactivity hasn't been by his own doing.  He had planned on fighting again in 2016 but due to circumstances beyond his control, his next ring appearance will have to wait till 2017. He has stayed in shape while he awaits word on his next fight date.

"I am in the gym everyday, 4 days a week in the PHPC (Porter Hy Performance Center). Outside of that I am still doing my yoga, my long runs and my bike rides. The weather is still good back home in Vegas. I am just trying to be patient and stay prayed up but sometimes that part gets hard.  I am trying to do everything the right way and wait for God to move," said Porter.

The 29-year-old only fought once in 2016 and is frustrated by the lack of fights.  Shortly after the loss to Thurman he thought that he definitely would have fought again by now.

"It's got to be first quarter. After my fight in June, you guys were asking me in July if I was going to fight again this year and I was like, 'hell yeah, yeah I am going to fight.' Then I was looking to fight in September, then it became October, then November and then December. At this point I can't even give you a month. I can't even estimate. I can only do what I am doing which is work hard.  I am letting you guys know I am ready to fight as soon as somebody signs the dotted line. It doesn't matter who. It doesn't matter when. I am ready," he explained.

The dream scenario for Porter is to get in the ring as soon as possible and then face the winner of the Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia unification clash that is slated for March.

"That is going to be a great fight. I obviously want the winner of that fight. If I have to pick a winner my mind says Keith Thurman will win that fight. I think he is strong and I think he has what it takes to give Danny Garcia his first loss. This is boxing though so anything can happen," Porter told BoxingScene.com.

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