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SPARRING World champions and top class fighters is always likely to advance the career of any young professional. In the case of light-middleweight Shawn Porter, hes made a name for himself giving Manny Pacquiao all the trouble he could handle during the Filipino's preparations for Miguel Cotto, and is now transferring that form into his own game.
"I think my careers goin great at the moment. I'm having fun and learning at the same time," said the 22 year old who calls himself "Showtime". Flying Shawn in from his native cleveland to the wild card gym in LA, Freddie Roach revealed he picked him to spar Pacquiao because he felt Porter's lefg hook was more powerful than Cotto's. "The power is definitely natural and i see it as a blessing from God," Shawn said. "Also, ive been training since i was 4 years old so a lot of things i do in the ring ive been workin on for a very long time. I believe it is developed skill. "Manny enlightened me a lot as i watched him work. It showed me what it takes to be a world champion when i actually got into the ring and sparred with him. It was an experience that cannot be paid for and i cherish those times. "As for Pacquiao-Mayweather, im not going to pick a winner because i believe styles make fights and both guys have the styles required for a great spectacle. It will be a fight you can't help but sit back and watch. It's that hard to call."
Porter's last outing, on the ShoBox series, saw him impressively starch 8-0 Jamar Patterson in four rounds as he improved to 12-0 (10). "The Patterson fight went well," he explained. "I felt good for all four rounds. The knockout was set up by a feint that made him reach his right hand out, so i leapt round with my left hook. I floored him, yet surprisingly he got up and i jumped back on him until the referee stopped it. "At this point in my career it's important to get TV exposure. As soon as people figure out that i'm an exciting fighter, i'll be on TV a lot more."
"I think my careers goin great at the moment. I'm having fun and learning at the same time," said the 22 year old who calls himself "Showtime". Flying Shawn in from his native cleveland to the wild card gym in LA, Freddie Roach revealed he picked him to spar Pacquiao because he felt Porter's lefg hook was more powerful than Cotto's. "The power is definitely natural and i see it as a blessing from God," Shawn said. "Also, ive been training since i was 4 years old so a lot of things i do in the ring ive been workin on for a very long time. I believe it is developed skill. "Manny enlightened me a lot as i watched him work. It showed me what it takes to be a world champion when i actually got into the ring and sparred with him. It was an experience that cannot be paid for and i cherish those times. "As for Pacquiao-Mayweather, im not going to pick a winner because i believe styles make fights and both guys have the styles required for a great spectacle. It will be a fight you can't help but sit back and watch. It's that hard to call."
Porter's last outing, on the ShoBox series, saw him impressively starch 8-0 Jamar Patterson in four rounds as he improved to 12-0 (10). "The Patterson fight went well," he explained. "I felt good for all four rounds. The knockout was set up by a feint that made him reach his right hand out, so i leapt round with my left hook. I floored him, yet surprisingly he got up and i jumped back on him until the referee stopped it. "At this point in my career it's important to get TV exposure. As soon as people figure out that i'm an exciting fighter, i'll be on TV a lot more."
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