By Jake Donovan

It’s a win Shawn Porter wants bad enough, that he was willing to match his career-lightest weight in order to make it happen.

The former welterweight titlist insists he is on course to make weight for his upcoming showdown with fellow Ohioan, former three-division titlist Adrien Broner. The two collide at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (Saturday, NBC, 8:30 p.m. ET), with the fight to be contested at a maximum catchweight of 144 lbs.

Porter has come in that light for just one fight in his pro career, a 10-round win over Anges Adjaho way back in Feb. ’11. Before that, you’d have to go all the way back to 2003, when he competed in the 145 lb. division as a 15-year old in the amateurs.

Still, from risk comes reward. The risk, as Porter sees it, comes from facing a former three-division titlist such as Broner (30-1, 22KOs). In agreeing to the catchweight, Porter and his camp—headed by his father and trainer Kenny—have minimized any risk making such weight would cause his health, perhaps to the dismay of his opponent this weekend.

“We were asked to come in at this weight. There’s a little kid from Cincinnati that’s scared to fight at that weight, even though he’s fought there before,” commented Porter (25-1-1, 16KOs). “We’re going to get on scale and make weight, and let him know he’s not getting any advantage from that.”

The bout will mark Porter’s second ring appearance since a title-losing effort to Kell Brook last summer. He comes into Saturday’s showdown on the heels of a 5th round knockout over late replacement Erick Bone this past March.

Both fights took place at the 147 lb. welterweight limit, where the 27-year old from Akron, OH has spent the better part of the past five years of his career. It’s where he plans to return regardless of what takes place this weekend.

“I’m not looking past Adrien. That said, we made this fight at 144 lbs.,” Porter notes. “Beyond that, there’s no other reason to fight any lower than welterweight. I’m a 147 lb. fighter and want to fight the best welterweights at their strongest—not a blown up 140 lb. fighter, not a talked down 154 lb. fighter. I want to face the best at their best.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox