The narrative suddenly changes on Shawn Porter...

[alexguiness]

Porter is underrated by many here - mainly because he is black...but not 'slick'.

The truth of the matter is that Porter had a very credible Amateur career and was a worthy title holder at 147.

He come to each fight prepared and has no quit in him whatsoever - he has some skills, but his aggression and physicality are his main attributes.

Another reason he is not popular is he is a clean living, intelligent athlete and does not live the thug life, partying with guys like Spence, Davis and Broner et al.

[SplitSecond]

Also, what I found on Spence's flaws was his inability to shoot a proper right hook over the top of Shawn Porter to catch him coming on the way in.

Old man Pacquiao was shooting the right hook whenever Thurman shoots his jab to go on the inside and catch Thurman coming on the way in. Spence never did that even ONCE.

Spence can throw inside counters. He doesn’t punch on the move well so can’t throw outside counters well. You can see in this fight a lot of his counter lefts were arm punches, he has a hard time moving and punching.

[SplitSecond]

Porter is underrated by many here - mainly because he is black...but not 'slick'.

The truth of the matter is that Porter had a very credible Amateur career and was a worthy title holder at 147.

He come to each fight prepared and has no quit in him whatsoever - he has some skills, but his aggression and physicality are his main attributes.

Another reason he is not popular is he is a clean living, intelligent athlete and does not live the thug life, partying with guys like Spence, Davis and Broner et al.

Porter could have been much better if he had left his father already. I like both Porter’s and I’m sure the guy has his place, esspecially as a drill sergeant but Porter has such a ridiculously flawed style, with some refinement with the right trainer he’d go over the edge and start winning these fights.

The only fight I thought he was outgunned was vs Thurman. Vs Brook where he smothered himself all damn night and vs Spence where he hung inside way too long, he shouldn’t have lost those fights.

But it is what it is, he’s still an awesome fighter with an iron will.

[alexguiness]

Porter could have been much better if he had left his father already. I like both Porter’s and I’m sure the guy has his place, esspecially as a drill sergeant but Porter has such a ridiculously flawed style, with some refinement with the right trainer he’d go over the edge and start winning these fights.

The only fight I thought he was outgunned was vs Thurman. Vs Brook where he smothered himself all damn night and vs Spence where he hung inside way too long, he shouldn’t have lost those fights.

But it is what it is, he’s still an awesome fighter with an iron will.

Maybe, but I can understand his bond with his father as they have been through everything together.

The only fights Porter has lost (i believe) were all split decisions, so you could make the argument that on any other day he would have got the decision.

That's enough to make me believe that it's entirely feasible that whatever the reason was for him losing 3 very close fights...it was not his coach.

[lolpz]

It’s not Spence hate a lot of people legit think that he won including my self but I’m not those crazy people who try to claim he got robbed by Spence it was just a close fight.

Spence was forced to fight porters fight the majority of the fight. Porter rocked Spence several times.

Spence got on the inside and beat Porter up to the body (and nuts tbf) all throughout the fight. Outworked, outlanded, and dropped Porter.

He beat Porter at his own game. Porter had the more eye catching headshots maybe. But by that logic he lost to Danny Garcia clearly.

[Raggamuffin]

Before the fight. Shawn was an un skilled brawler that would hit a brick wall on Spence and would never had a chance on winning before getting KOed.

Now all of a sudden Porter is suddenly great and the Thurman fight that is considered a clear close win for Thurman suddenly becomes a razor close fight that could have gone either way.

Good post. Spence is totally overrated.

[SplitSecond]

Maybe, but I can understand his bond with his father as they have been through everything together.

The only fights Porter has lost (i believe) were all split decisions, so you could make the argument that on any other day he would have got the decision.

That's enough to make me believe that it's entirely feasible that whatever the reason was for him losing 3 very close fights...it was not his coach.

If not the coach then what? Like I said, in the Brook and Spence fights what cost him was the loose gameplans(not saying it was wrong, but maybe not tight enough, pure speculation) and those flaws. The gameplan nearly cost him the Garcia fight too, where he gave up a lot of rounds boxing early. And the flaws (like not having the other hand up when throwing a hook, raising his chin when throwing an uppercut etc) he has a TON of flaws. A trainer to tighten those up and refine his style as well as the gameplan. My point is, with little tweaks, it would enhance him just enough to where he could be swinging these close fights his way.

Now I don’t get why you think because he managed to make these fights close with mainly will and ferocity that the corner couldn’t be better. Pacquiao was just a ball of will and ferocity too till he was taken to another level with refinement and the adding of skills.

I can see that Porter is improving, but he has been improving way too slow, and he has the temperament where the guy badly wants to learn and be the best, so it shouldn’t have been that hard. But alas, he’s probably close to the end of his rope, although he could probably still strengthen his boxing skills for longevity.

[alexguiness]

If not the coach then what? Like I said, in the Brook and Spence fights what cost him was the loose gameplans(not saying it was wrong, but maybe not tight enough, pure speculation) and those flaws. The gameplan nearly cost him the Garcia fight too, where he gave up a lot of rounds boxing early. And the flaws (like not having the other hand up when throwing a hook, raising his chin when throwing an uppercut etc) he has a TON of flaws. A trainer to tighten those up and refine his style as well as the gameplan. My point is, with little tweaks, it would enhance him just enough to where he could be swinging these close rds his way.

Now I don’t get why you think because he managed to make these fights close with mainly will and ferocity that the corner couldn’t be better. Pacquiao was just a ball of will and ferocity too till he was taken to another level with refinement and the adding of skills.

I can see that Porter is improving, but he has been improving way too slow, and he has the temperament where the guy badly wants to learn and be the best, so it shouldn’t have been that hard. But alas, he’s probably close to the end of his rope, although he could probably still strengthen his boxing skills for longevity.

You make some good points, but i really don't think Porter can improve technically or technically.

He is a swarmer by nature and pretty successful at it.

Sort of like if you teach him something more cerebral, then you lose some of his aggression / fearlessness - adding something new with one hand but taking something away with the other.

[SplitSecond]

You make some good points, but i really don't think Porter can improve technically or technically.

He is a swarmer by nature and pretty successful at it.

Sort of like if you teach him something more cerebral, then you lose some of his aggression / fearlessness - adding something new with one hand but taking something away with the other.

Maybe. If Freddie could get a feather duster like Shiming to actually turn his punches over properly (it didn’t last long, he’d eventually revert into dusting), even with just that, if Porter was in better position to throw better punches, it could change fights drastically, he’s not a weak puncher at all, just punches from horrible positions.

Good talk.

[deanrw]

I see the fight as Shawn has always been tough, gritty, skilled and never an easy fight.


I see Spence as a very good overall tough skilled fighter. He is not "elite" skilled but he is on the doorstep.


Not a whole lot separates the top 5 welterweights. Crawford is the elite skilled one, but not yet tested with the best of Welter.