Shawn Porter "swerving" the Spence question at the post fight press conference

He doesn't need any bargaining chips. All these guys are with Haymon. They'll be mixed and matched as Haymon pleases so that there can be big welterweight fights every year for years to come. It's important that these guys become mandatory because it blocks non-Haymon fighters from becoming mandatory and interfering with the fights Haymon has in mind. We've tried to explain over and over that in the industry, the WBC championship is regarded as the holy grail. That is the belt fighters grow up dreaming of winning. You may not like that Shawn considers the WBC belt a step up from the IBF belt, but 99% of fighters feel that way. Fair enough!

While I agree with that statement, we can't deny the fact that if he had an "easy" route to the IBF or WBO belt, he'd take it because it would represent a bigger bargaining chip against Thurman than being the number WBC contender. He doesn't need any bargaining chips. All these guys are with Haymon. They'll be mixed and matched as Haymon pleases so that there can be big welterweight fights every year for years to come. It's important that these guys become mandatory because it blocks non-Haymon fighters from becoming mandatory and interfering with the fights Haymon has in mind. What I didn't like about Porter's response is that he acts as if being the IBF Champion is "been there done that" and that going after the WBC belt is now a "bigger" challenge. We've tried to explain over and over that in the industry, the WBC championship is regarded as the holy grail. That is the belt fighters grow up dreaming of winning. You may not like that Shawn considers the WBC belt a step up from the IBF belt, but 99% of fighters feel that way.

Porter gave the honest answer. He's worked very hard to earn a rematch with Thurman and Thurman is who he wants next. He's not going to give up his WBC position after just winning two eliminators to force Thurman to fight him. Win or lose, Porter will end up fighting Spence. Haymon's top welterweights will be mixing and matching for years to come. But Porter is not going the Spence route until after the Thurman rematch. While I agree with that statement, we can't deny the fact that if he had an "easy" route to the IBF or WBO belt, he'd take it because it would represent a bigger bargaining chip against Thurman than being the number WBC contender. What I didn't like about Porter's response is that he acts as if being the IBF Champion is "been there done that" and that going after the WBC belt is now a "bigger" challenge. No Shawn: bringing another belt to that table is bigger than being the mandatory. Problem is: Spence holds that IBF belt and Top Rank owns the WBO belt. You ain't about going through these hurdles at the time and I honestly can't blame you.

We need Porter-Garcia before a Thurman rematch..... Garcia turned it down. Wants a tune up before his next big fight.

So, Spence is to him what he thinks he's to Garcia...

Porter gave the honest answer. He's worked very hard to earn a rematch with Thurman and Thurman is who he wants next. He's not going to give up his WBC position after just winning two eliminators to force Thurman to fight him. Win or lose, Porter will end up fighting Spence. Haymon's top welterweights will be mixing and matching for years to come. But Porter is not going the Spence route until after the Thurman rematch. We need Porter-Garcia before a Thurman rematch.....

Porter gave the honest answer. He's worked very hard to earn a rematch with Thurman and Thurman is who he wants next. He's not going to give up his WBC position after just winning two eliminators to force Thurman to fight him. Win or lose, Porter will end up fighting Spence. Haymon's top welterweights will be mixing and matching for years to come. But Porter is not going the Spence route until after the Thurman rematch.

Imo Spence is a bad match-up for Porter.

Spence fvcks him up When Granados bullied him back Porter absolutely hated it. Spence would hurt Shawn.

Spence fvcks him up