Shawn Porter beat some top middleweights in the ams

Jacobs beat him twice (in 2007)... Won against Julio Diaz, Devon Alexander, Paul Malignaggi, Adrien Broner, Demetrius Andrade, Edwin Rodriguez. Lost against Kell Brook. Drew against Julio Diaz. If I recall correctly, Jacobs said they fought 7 times in the amateurs. Porter beat him only once or twice, but given the size disadvantage that's to be expected. His amateur record is pretty solid, 276-14.

Well, in the amateurs, there's plenty of big-fish stories. Also factor in Porter played multiple different sports, and also wasn't a professional athlete so he was likely to carry a little extra weight. You know, when he's transitioning between his football seasons and amateur bouts, cutting weight isn't going to be quite as drastic as the professional realm. Plus, it's really not uncommon to see guys in bigger weight classes than they should be. Also, there's a bit of leniency in amateur boxing with making weight.. especially in local scenes. I forget the actual regulation, but in local shows I think as long as you and your opponent are within 8lbs of each other? Tournaments though you can't be more than 2 lbs under; if you weigh within 2 lbs over you have a certain time frame to make weight. Over 2 lbs, fight is a no-go. Please correct me, I'm sure I'm not 100% correct, but this was the case at the Reno Nat'l a few weeks ago and as well as at RWC.

He beat Jacobs a few times as well as some other good names. He's a good fighter. His flaws can be taken advantage of by other top guys, but he's got a lot of good attributes. Jacobs beat him twice (in 2007)... Won against Julio Diaz, Devon Alexander, Paul Malignaggi, Adrien Broner, Demetrius Andrade, Edwin Rodriguez. Lost against Kell Brook. Drew against Julio Diaz.

He beat Jacobs a few times as well as some other good names. He's a good fighter. His flaws can be taken advantage of by other top guys, but he's got a lot of good attributes.

Two things: 1) He probably held slightly more fat from that time period until now. He's shredded as **** and has very low body fat when he fights. I highly doubt as a teenager he was as good at nutrition/dieting as he is now, and even if a little he probably still carried slightly more body fat. 2) He drains water weight and re-hydrates to around 160-165. Against Broner, I don't know the his unofficial weigh in, but I'm sure he was at least 158~ish pounds. That was despite a catch weigh of 144. So he still does weigh a lot.

USA amateur middleweight weights; junior middle 156lbs middleweight 165lbs.

In the AM's no decent coach (especially a dad) is going to weight drain a kid. Simple weight cutting is typical but the way the pros do it could really put a strain on a youngsters body and make em hate the sport. With that said, I am sure once Porter realized which sport he wanted to pursue as an adult pro, his height came into factor and the best choice was to get serious and cut weight for an advantage. Smart move by the Porters to fight as a WW pro given his big names at MW (ams) hes already beat, that probably makes for a lot of confidence knowing he took shots from bigger guys.

Porter has no choice. He a very short middleweight with average power. Thurman who is not a tall welter is even taller than him. But this got me to remember. Curtis Stevens, 5'7", used to be a super middleweight. But at least he has power to KO opponents.

at that time you were dealing with 16 yr olds. closed case...........

I'm sure in the AMs he was able to outwork the bigger opponent by speed but considering we are talking 3rds. In a 12 round against a legit 154lb or 160lb fighter it would be no good.

Unfortunately his style doesn't suite well in the upper weightclasses were he won't be able to bully or outwork the bigger man on the inside.

They probably felt Porter could have an easier way to the top if he rehydrated and was the bigger man considering his style. thats what im thinking, at 154 he looked horrible he cant really beat guys at 160 using his style if Kell Brook who is a huge 147 pounder man handled him in the clinch imagine a 154 pounder who is even bigger than Brook? Porter might wind up damaged badly at 154 or 160.

They probably felt Porter could have an easier way to the top if he rehydrated and was the bigger man considering his style.

Porter and his father said Porter fought them all above 160 pounds.

They were probably around 13 and roughly the same size at the time.