(Photo credit: Hogan Photos) By Dan Ambrose: WBA “regular” welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs) will be defending his WBA 147lb title against former IBF welterweight champion Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs) on December 12th on Showtime Championship Boxing at a still to be determined venue, according to Dan Rafael.
This is a very big fight and easily the biggest of the 26-year-old Thurman’s career. It’s what you would call a proving fight for Thurman, because he’s had it pretty easy in his eight year pro career with all the soft opponents that his adviser Al Haymon has put him in with thus far.
This is going to be a really tough fight for Thurman because Porter has the superior hand speed, and a much superior inside game. Thurman has the edge in punch power, but not much of an edge. Porter will need to be careful with Thurman’s left hook, because that’s his best weapon in his arsenal.
Porter was knocked down in the 12th round in his last fight by a left hook from Adrien Broner. You can bet that Thurman will be studying that fight and will be looking to use his left hook all the time. If Porter can take that weapon away all night from Thurman, then this is going to be a very easy fight for Porter.
The moment you hear your name in victory, as a fighter, that's a feeling that drives you in every training camp. pic.twitter.com/asO66GTQJG
— ShowtimeShawn Porter (@ShowtimeShawnP) October 6, 2015
Porter did a great job against Broner in chasing him down quickly when he tried to run from him, and not letting him get any space to throw his punches. Thurman likes to run like mad from his opponents, and it could be bad for him if Porter is able to stay close to him and not let him run away after he throws a punch or when he’s trying to evade punches.
This could be really a disaster for Thurman because he doesn’t have a good chin, and he’s not made to stand and a trade with his opponents. Thurman only does well when he hits and runs away. Based on Thurman’s fighting style, Thurman would seem to be the worst possible opponent for the likes of Thurman.
Thurman recently defeated former WBA 147lb champion Luis Collazo by a 7th round knockout last July at the USF Sundome, in Tampa, Florida, USA. Depending on who you talk to, you either thought Thurman looked great or terrible.
The people who weren’t impressed with Thurman’s performance point out that he was hurt by a body shot from Collazo that almost knocked him down in the 4th round. While Thurman was able to survive from the shot, he fought much in the same timid manner that he’d done in his fight against Leonard Bundu in December 2013.
Thurman does not like to stay in the pocket at all. His game is to move forward quickly, land one big shot, and then scurry away to safety before he gets nailed in return. Thurman likes to counter punch, so that’s usually when he has his best moments.
“I’m told we’ll be seeing @keithfthurmanjr vs. @ShowtimeShawnP on @SHOsports on Dec. 12. Bring it on! #boxing,” Rafael said on his Twitter.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. was recently offering Thurman a shot at one of his two titles if he would agree to fight unbeaten welterweight contender Errol Spence (18-0, 15 KOs), but Thurman turned Mayweather down cold. A lot of boxing fans now see Thurman as being afraid of the hard hitting Spence due to his big punching power and superb accuracy.
It would be a disappointment if Porter beats Thurman before Spence has a chance to get him in the ring to try and beat him his self. Spence sees weakness in Thurman that he believes he can exploit to the fullest if he can ever get him to agree to fight him.
Spence said this about Thurman: “I’d merk that boy!”
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