By Danny Esch: The mega fight between Keith “One Time” Thurman and Shawn “Showtime” Porter will soon make landfall on June 25th at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn New York. For those that don’t understand the magnitude of this fight let me emphasize my point to you that this truly is a “Mega” type of fight.
I emphasize this point because you will have the luxury of watching two young guys who are both in their prime years in this sport. This fight is truly a 50/50 type of fight because both fighters posses knock out power in both hands and arguably unblemished records except for Porters fight against Kell Brook that some say Shawn Porter actually one.
These two fighters also have a long history together growing up in the Amateur Boxing arenas and sparring sessions in each others clubs. On one side you have “Showtime” Shawn Porter who comes from a great and respectable background and who is trained by his father Kenny Porter.
Shawn Porters last ‘Named’ opponent was the flashy confrontational Adrien Broner, who Porter beat convincingly even though he did touch the canvas for a brief moment towards the end of the fight in the 12th round. On the other side, you have Keith “One Time” Thurman from Clearwater, Florida, who has a very healthy knockout ratio of 81% and who still is an undefeated welterweight with a record of 26-0. As part of their promotional obligations both fighters were in Brooklyn, New York recently doing a photo shoot and a special shout out to “The Boxing Voice” team who captured the footage. Nestor Gibbs of “The Boxing Voice” interviewed Keith Thurman outside of the venue.
Nestor: “Keith, There has been a lot of speculation and rumors and a lot of things made about the time you and Shawn spent together in training camp for your Marcos Maidana fight. Now what I know and my hardcores know is that you were only 17-0 at the time so are the Porter’s taking to much from what they gathered way back then during that sparring session.”
Thurman: “Well, first OFF you yourself should see what the tape looks like.”
Thurman: “Don’t Talk about what “other” people said happened okay because the only people that know what happened are people from my gym because it happened in my gym OK.”
Thurman: “Look, Nestor, I’ve seen your interviews I know you have been talking to the Porter’s but none of that matters on June 25th and I already said it at the conference today and I’m going to keep saying it up until the fight that Shawn Porter is going to get DROPPED. okay. I mean I’m coming to do what I do best man and that is Hurting People. One thing that you see “One Time” do each and every time is hurt somebody and Shawn Porter ain’t gonna be any different.”
Nestor Gibbs concluded the interview and immediately relayed all that was said to Kenny Porter (Trainer/Father) who has been adamant about his sons dominance over Keith during that session. In my opinion Kenny Porter got on his bike and back peddled when Keith confronted him.
Nestor: “Hey, Kenny, you heard Keith he said I know Shawn Porters daddy said what he saw in that sparring match but that was years ago.”
Porter: “They know because they (Team Thurman) have the video tape because they filmed it”
Now during this time Kenny Porter doesn’t even realize that Thurman is right behind him listening in to his response and proceeds to run up to Kenny Porter.
Porter: “They have the tape.”
Thurman: “We got the tape baby now hold up hold up hold up hold UP ya”ll can talk about whatever highlights ya”ll remember but let me talk about the highlights that I remember.”
Porter: “I don’t remember any highlights.”
Thurman: “Oh ok, so now you don’t remember. Okay, so you don’t remember any highlights now but what did you talk to him (Nestor) about?”
Thurman: “So let’s put the tape on YOUTUBE and let the world see it and decide.”