By Gav Duthie: Al Haymon has secured a welterweight co-feature event at the Stubhub Center, California on March 13 as part of his new network deal with SpikeTV. The card will feature two former welterweight champions on the comeback trail in tough contests.
Shawn Porter 24-1-1 (15) v Roberto Garcia 36-3 (23)
Andre Berto 29-3 (22) v Josesito Lopez 33-6 (19)
Porter v Garcia
This is a strong test for Porter in facing the big punching mexican. Garcia hasn’t lost since 2010 (a points defeat to Antonio Margarito) and has won 8 fights in a row since then. He survived a penultimate round knockdown against Breidis Prescott in his last fight to secure this opportunity to fight Porter. Despite losing his title to Kell Brook, Shawn Porter is a significantly better known fighter than he was 18 months ago. This is a good fight for him as he won’t be able to push Garcia around like he did Paulie Maliggnaggi but it will suit him mote than the Kell Brook fight did. Garcia has never been stopped so this could well go the distance.
Berto v Lopez
Josesito Lopez will be looking for a big win here to give his career a shot in the arm much like when he defeated Berto rival Victor Ortiz. Lopez proved he was short of world level after stoppage defeats to Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana but he has won his last three at a lower level. It seems like such a long time ago since Berto was the welterweight king. He was tipped as a Mayweather opponent but losses to Victor Ortiz, Robert Guerrero and even Jesus Soto Karass on his last comeback leave his career hanging in the balance. He looked slightly better against Upsher but Loez is a step up again.
Predictions
I think Porter will win by decision and Berto will score a stoppage in the late rounds.
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