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By Jake Donovan - The two main shows appearing on stateside television this weekend couldn’t have less in common. They air on separate nights and networks from two different countries and feature two fighters who fight nothing alike and are at different stages of their respective careers.
Yet for all of their differences, a single word can sum up this weekend’s appearances for Shawn Porter and Giovanni Segura: homecoming.
For Shawn Porter (12-0, 10KO), home means heading back to Ohio. The undefeated junior middleweight prospect takes the lead role in this week’s edition of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights (Friday, 9PM ET/6PM PT) when he faces Russell Jordan in the main event at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, approximately 45 minutes from his Akron hometown.
Porter’s name repeatedly made headlines last year, mainly for his time served as a lead sparring partner for Manny Pacquiaio. The 2008 U.S. Olympic alternate was brought in to help boxing’s reigning pound-for-pound king prepare for his battle with Miguel Cotto.
Things appeared to work out well all the way around. Pacquiao enjoyed one of the most dominant wins of his career with his 12th round stoppage to capture a major title in a record-breaking seventh weight class. It also capped a 2009 campaign that would cement his claim as both Fighter of the Year as well as the top fighter for the first ten years of the 2000’s.
It wasn’t quite as glamorous for Porter, but enough of a launching pad to get his name in lights and also put his best foot forward while he had everyone’s attention. Among his nine fights in 2009 came three nationally televised appearances – twice on ESPN and a knockout on Showtime’s Shobox series to end his year.
This weekend marks Porter’s fourth televised appearance, but first time as the headlining act as well as his inaugural bout in the Buckeye State after having spent most of his young career fighting in Southeastern United States. [Click Here To Read More]
Yet for all of their differences, a single word can sum up this weekend’s appearances for Shawn Porter and Giovanni Segura: homecoming.
For Shawn Porter (12-0, 10KO), home means heading back to Ohio. The undefeated junior middleweight prospect takes the lead role in this week’s edition of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights (Friday, 9PM ET/6PM PT) when he faces Russell Jordan in the main event at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, approximately 45 minutes from his Akron hometown.
Porter’s name repeatedly made headlines last year, mainly for his time served as a lead sparring partner for Manny Pacquiaio. The 2008 U.S. Olympic alternate was brought in to help boxing’s reigning pound-for-pound king prepare for his battle with Miguel Cotto.
Things appeared to work out well all the way around. Pacquiao enjoyed one of the most dominant wins of his career with his 12th round stoppage to capture a major title in a record-breaking seventh weight class. It also capped a 2009 campaign that would cement his claim as both Fighter of the Year as well as the top fighter for the first ten years of the 2000’s.
It wasn’t quite as glamorous for Porter, but enough of a launching pad to get his name in lights and also put his best foot forward while he had everyone’s attention. Among his nine fights in 2009 came three nationally televised appearances – twice on ESPN and a knockout on Showtime’s Shobox series to end his year.
This weekend marks Porter’s fourth televised appearance, but first time as the headlining act as well as his inaugural bout in the Buckeye State after having spent most of his young career fighting in Southeastern United States. [Click Here To Read More]
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