Former world champions Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia battle Saturday for the vacant World Boxing Council welterweight title and perhaps a chance to avenge a loss to unbeaten Keith Thurman.
The slugfest between 30-year-old Americans at New York's Barclays Center sends Garcia, 34-1 with 20 knockouts, against Porter, 28-2 with one drawn and 17 knockouts, for a title vacated by Thurman in April due to injury.
Garcia beat Mexico's Erik Morales for the WBC super-lightweight crown in March 2012 and took the World Boxing Association version of the crown from Britain's Amir Khan four months later. He spent two years ruling the division before moving up in weight.
In 2016, he beat Robert Guerrero for the WBC welterweight crown but lost it last year to Thurman in a split decision at Barclays Center. Garcia last fought in February, stopping Brandon Rios.
Thurman needed right elbow surgery after beating Garcia and suffered a bruised left hand last March in training for his next fight. He vacated the WBC crown in April, setting the stage for Garcia to face Porter with the winner a likely next foe for compatriot Thurman, 28-0 with 22 knockouts.
Porter edged Thurman 115-113 on all three scorecards to win their 2016 matchup for the WBA crown in his most recent world title bout. He has won two fights since then, most recently by unanimous decision over Mexico's Adrian Granados last November, to set up the Garcia showdown.
Porter beat Devon Alexander in 2013 for the International Boxing Federation welterweight title and defended that crown twice before losing it by majority decision to Britain's Kell Brook in 2014.
"The way I'm going to win this fight will change the conversation at welterweight. You're going to have to wonder whether Errol Spence Jr. and Terrence Crawford have what it takes to beat me. I'm here to put on a great show, win this title and do it in spectacular fashion," Porter said.
"I'm used to being the underdog. I've upset people before. I'm looking forward to doing what it takes to be that one to pull it off.
"Styles make fights. One way or another, I'm ready to do whatever it takes to win this fight. There's nothing I've ever wanted in my entire life more than this. I'm out here to take it.
"Anything Danny is coming with, I'm taking it. It's mine. Whatever it takes, I will not be stopped on Saturday night."