Shawn Porter is a Wrecking Ball with a Grade-A Chin, but the Pick is Crawford

Published

3 years ago

November 16, 2021

Sean Nam

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Terence Crawford will finally have a chance to reshape the narrative of his (so far) middling stint in the welterweight ranks when he defends his 147-pound bauble against the redoubtable Shawn Porter Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Who knows, if the end result swings in his favor – and it should – you may even see the surly switch-hitter break into a smile.

Ever since he hiked up to the so-called glamour division some four odd years ago, Omaha’s Crawford has reaped seemingly every desirable outcome an elite prizefighter could dream of from the sport: outsize paychecks (cut by his longtime promoter Top Rank), exposure on national television (via media mammoth ESPN), and nonstop adulation as a generational great (according to Joe Tessitore and anyone with a Twitter handle). So why all the sulking?

Because for every ditty sung in praise of Crawford’s “pound-for-pound” bonafides, a barrage of jeers rains down from the peanut gallery, calling into question his credentials at the welterweight limit – and rightfully so. His white whale, Errol Spence Jr., has remained beyond reach, on account of the ceaseless factional rifts in the sport. Manny Pacquiao has retired (for now) to become a fulltime politico. That Crawford’s run thus far at 147 has been underwhelming is an understatement. His first fight in the division, after all, was a title shot against the tough-as-nails but cloddish Jeff Horn, a former school teacher. The matchmaking did not improve. Jose Benavidez Jr., Amir Khan, and Kell Brook were all, to one degree or another, hobbled and shopworn. Only Egidijus Kavaliauskas, a solid contender who managed to give Crawford a few fits in the early going before folding late, can be said to have been in his prime. Indeed, the disjunction between the prestige of his name and the inadequacy of his résumé can only be the source of much frustration, if not outright embarrassment, for a fighter as prideful as Crawford. Nobody in boxing, not even a palooka, wants to hear that their career is a sham.

The recent achievement of Canelo Alvarez, who unified all four belts in the 168-pound division with a stoppage over Caleb Plant earlier this month, serves as an instructive foil. Even Crawford, 34, seemed to be in awe of Alvarez’s latest milestone, his recent comments suggesting a whiff of envy.

“[Alvarez] has fought four times in the past year,” Crawford told Sky Sports. “He has become undisputed. He is getting all of the fights that he wants right now. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to. It has been frustrating. But what’s meant for me, I will have. Everything happens for a reason and I believe that my time is coming. I feel like I’m already there, but I have to prove it to the world and it starts with Porter.”

Although Crawford has described Porter in ways that suggest he views him as nothing more than a steppingstone – “I told him I’m not looking to fight you,” Crawford recounted to Tim Bradley. “I’m looking to fight Spence, I’m looking to fight Keith Thurman, because they’ve got something to offer.” – the mauler from Cleveland, Ohio is clearly the toughest opponent of his career. A former football player, Porter is a wrecking ball in perpetual motion. Few willingly line up to face Porter, and those who have faced him are never in the mood for a rematch. “[It’s like] skydiving for the first time,” Kenny Porter said of his son recently. “When you get to the ground and you’re safe, you say, ‘whew, I made it. I’m never doing that again.’ That’s Shawn Porter. That’s what you get.”

In recent years, Porter has added a bit more finesse to his pedal-to-the-metal approach, in addition to shoring up some of the more unsavory aspects of his aggressive style, namely his tendency to smother his punches, utilize elbows, and lead with his head. In what may have been the best performance of his career (albeit in a losing effort) against Spence, Porter landed a surprising number of clean, strafing blows. But his worst habits came back to haunt him late, when Spence caught him waffling on the inside, chin exposed, with a left cross that put him down. To his credit, Porter, 31-3-1, (17), was not visibly shaken. Nevertheless, such lapses figure to be a recipe for disaster against a marksman as accurate and lethal as Crawford. Still, compared to previous Crawford victims, Porter is durable, superbly conditioned, and perhaps most importantly, he has an A-grade chin.

Unlike Porter, Crawford does not have any glaring weaknesses. He hits hard with both hands, can switch stances on a dime, and possesses, like the best jazz artists, an improvisatory feel for the game. He can also take a punch. What makes Crawford especially unique in boxing today though is his ability to finish. He has stopped every single welterweight he has ever fought, a feat worth mentioning given that is not an inclination shared by some of his top peers; Thurman has gone the distance with Josesito Lopez, Danny Garcia with Ivan Redkach, and Spence with an undersized Mikey Garcia. The last time Crawford, 37-0 (28), went the distance was in 2016, when he defeated Viktor Postol on points. Porter, of course, is an entirely different proposition. Moreover, one concern for Crawford is that he seems to be more hittable in recent fights. Against Brook, Crawford had trouble avoiding the jab; against Kavaliauskas, he ate his fair share of right hands. On the other hand, Crawford will not have to worry about being presented with those same problems by Porter, whose strengths are of the more rough-hewn variety.

In order to have his hands raised at the end of the night, Porter must fight according to his natural instincts and employ the same gung-ho tactics that he used against Spence. Trying to be a cutie, as he imprudently did against Yordenis Ugas, is not the answer here. Yet he is up against an opponent who excels at containing pressure fighters and countering their aggression. That is why it is doubly important that Porter win the early rounds and take advantage of the fact that Crawford typically starts slow. The path for Porter to win is on the judges’ scorecards.

Crawford, on the other hand, needs to take a page out of the playback he employed for Horn. That means fighting exclusively out of the southpaw stance, doubling up the jab, and snapping off hooks while simultaneously circling away to his right. Eventually, Crawford will mix in uppercuts and find a home for his straight left. Unless Crawford, no spring chicken, has diminished considerably, it is hard to envision him squandering this opportunity. By the late rounds, Porter should be ready to go. Expect a violent finish – and perhaps even a smile…. CRAWFORD TKO 11

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Sean Nam

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Ringside at the Cosmo: Pacheco Outpoints Nelson plus Undercard Results

Published

22 hours ago

January 25, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Ringside at the Cosmo: Pacheco Outpoints Nelson plus Undercard Results

LAS VEGAS, NV – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Promotions was at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas tonight for the second half of a DAZN doubleheader that began in Nottingham, England. In the main event, Diego Pacheco, ranked #1 by the WBO at super middleweight, continued his ascent toward a world title with a unanimous decision over Steven Nelson.

Pacheco glides round the ring smoothly whereas Nelson wastes a lot energy with something of a herky-jerky style. However, although Nelson figured to slow down as the fight progressed, he did some of his best work in rounds 11 and 12. Fighting with a cut over his left eye from round four, a cut that periodically reopened, the gritty Nelson fulfilled his promise that he would a fight as if he had everything to lose if he failed to win, but it just wasn’t enough, even after his Omaha homie Terence “Bud” Crawford entered his corner before the last round to give him a pep talk (back home in North Omaha, Nelson runs the B&B (Bud and Bomac) Sports Academy.

All three judges had it 117-111 for Pacheco who mostly fought off his back foot but landed the cleaner punches throughout. A stablemate of David Benavidez and trained by David’s father Jose Benevidez Sr, Pacheco improved to 23-0 (18). It was the first pro loss for the 36-year-old Nelson (20-1).

Semi wind-up

Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz, who as a pro has never fought a match slated for fewer than 10 rounds, had too much class for Hermosillo, Mexico’s rugged Omar Salcido who returned to his corner with a puffy face after the fourth stanza, but won the next round and never stopped trying. The outcome was inevitable even before the final round when Salcido barely made it to the final gun, but the Mexican was far more competitive than many expected.

The Cuban, who was 4-0 vs. Keyshawn Davis in closely-contested bouts as an amateur, advanced his pro record to 5-0 (2), winning by scores by 99-91 and 98-92 twice. Salido, coming off his career-best win, a 9^th-round stoppage of former WBA super featherweight title-holder Chris Colbert, falls to 20-2.

Other TV bouts

Ernesto “Tito” Mercado, a 23-year-old super lightweight, aims to become the next world champion from Pomona, California, following in the footsteps of the late Richie Sandoval and Sugar Shane Mosely, and based on his showing tonight against former Beijing Olympian and former two-division title-holder Jose Pedraza, he is well on his way.

After three rounds after what had been a technical fight, Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs) knocked Pedraza off his pins with an overhand right followed by short left hand. Pedraza bounced back and fell on his backside. When he arose on unsteady legs, the bout was waived off. The official time was 2:08 of round four and the fading, 35-year-old Pedraza (29-7-1) was saddled with his third loss in his last four outings.

The 8-round super lightweight clash between Israel Mercado (no relation to “Tito”) and Leonardo Rubalcava was fan-friendly skirmish with many robust exchanges. When the smoke cleared, the verdict was a majority draw. Mercado got the nod on one card (76-74), but was overruled by a pair of 75-75 scores.

Mercado came out strong in the opening round, but suffered a flash knockdown before the round ended. The referee ruled it a slip but was overruled by replay operator Jay Nady and what would have been a 10-9 round for Mercado became a 10-8 round for Rubalcava. Mercado lost another point in round seven when he was penalized for low blows.

The scores were 76-74 for Mercado (11-1-2) and 75-75 twice. The verdict was mildly unpopular with most thinking that Mercado deserved the nod. Reportedly a four-time Mexican amateur champion, Rubalcava (9-0-1) is trained by Robert Garcia.

Also

New Matchroom signee Nishant Dev, a 24-year-old southpaw from India, had an auspicious pro debut (pardon the cliché). Before a beaming Eddie Hearn, Dev stopped Oakland’s Alton Wiggins (1-1-1) in the opening round. The referee waived it off after the second knockdown.

Boxers from India have made large gains at the amateur level in recent years and Matchroom honcho Eddie Hearn anticipates that Dev, a Paris Olympian, will be the first fighter from India to make his mark as a pro.

Undefeated Brooklyn lightweight Harley Mederos, managed by the influential Keith Connolly, scored his seventh knockout in eight tries with a brutal third-round KO of Mexico’s Arturo de Isla.

A left-right combination knocked de Isla (5-3-1) flat on his back. Referee Raul Caiz did not bother to count and several minutes elapsed before the stricken fighter was fit to leave the ring. The official time was 1:27 of round three.

In the opener, Newark junior lightweight Zaquin Moses, a cousin of Shakur Stevenson, improved to 2-0 when his opponent retired on his stool after the opening round.

Photo credit: Melina Pizano / Matchroom

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Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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Garry Jonas’ ProBox series returned to its regular home in Plant City, Florida, tonight with a card topped by a 10-round light heavyweight match between fast-rising Najee Lopez and former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. This was considered a step-up fight for the 25-year-old Lopez, an Atlanta-born-fighter of Puerto Rican heritage. Although the 36-year-old Castillo had lost two of his last three heading in, he had gone the distance with Dimitry Bivol and Marcus Browne and been stopped only once (by Callum Smith).

Lopez landed the cleaner punches throughout. Although Castillo seemed unfazed during the first half of the fight, he returned to his corner at the end of round five exhibiting signs of a fractured jaw.

In the next round, Lopez cornered him against the ropes and knocked him through the ropes with a left-right combination. Referee Emil Lombardo could have stopped the fight right there, but he allowed the courageous Castillo to carry on for a bit longer, finally stopping the fight as Castillo’s corner and a Florida commissioner were signaling that it was over.

The official time was 2:36 of round six. Bigger fights await the talented Lopez who improved to 13-0 with his tenth win inside the distance. Castillo declined to 25-7-1.

Co-Feature

In a stinker of a heavyweight fight, Stanley Wright, a paunchy, 34-year-old North Carolina journeyman, scored a big upset with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Milton.

Wright carried 280 pounds, 100 pounds more than in his pro debut 11 years ago. Although he was undefeated (13-0, 11 KOs), he had never defeated an opponent with a winning record and his last four opponents were a miserable 19-48-2. Moreover, he took the fight on short notice.

What Wright had going for him was fast hands and, in the opening round, he put Milton on the canvas with a straight right hand. From that point, Milton fought tentatively and Wright, looking fatigued as early as the fourth round, fought only in spurts. It seemed doubtful that he could last the distance, but Milton, the subject of a 2021 profile in these pages, was wary of Wright’s power and unable to capitalize. “It’s almost as if Milton is afraid to win,” said ringside commentator Chris Algieri during the ninth stanza when the bout had devolved into a hugfest.

The judges had it 96-93 and 97-92 twice for the victorious Wright who boosted his record to 14-0 without improving his stature.

Also

In the TV opener, a 10-round contest in the junior middleweight division, Najee Lopez stablemate Darrelle Valsaint (12-0, 10 KOs) scored his career-best win with a second-round knockout of 35-year-old Dutch globetrotter Stephen Danyo (23-7-3).

A native Floridian of Haitian descent, the 22-year-old Valsaint was making his eighth start in Plant City. He rocked Danyo with a chopping right hand high on the temple and then, as Danyo slumped forward, applied the exclamation point, a short left uppercut. The official time was 2:17 of round two.

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Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11^th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.

Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.

Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.

Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is Brandon Figueroa should he defeat former Inoue foe Stephen Fulton next weekend. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.

Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”

Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.

Semi-wind-up

In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

Also

In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.

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