By Dan Ambrose: Fresh off his knockout victory over Andre Berto, WBC mandatory challenger Shawn Porter has called out #2 WBC Danny Garcia for a fight between them. Porter, 29, would prefer to face WBA/WBC welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in a rematch, but he’s on the shelf right now in recovering from elbow surgery.
Thurman won’t be available for a fight until later this year, and it’s extremely doubtful that he’ll choose Porter (27-2-1, 17 KOs) as his next opponent when he does return to the ring. In the meantime, Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) has already been given an offer to fight for a world title against IBF 147 lb. champion Errol Spence Jr., an offer that the 29-year-old Garcia has ignored. That tells you a little bit about the self-confidence that Garcia has right now. #2 WBC, #3 WBA Garcia was beaten in his last fight by Thurman by a 12 round split decision.
If Garcia were to beat Spence to pick up the IBF title, it would make a rematch between him and Thurman a much bigger fight. Apparently, Garcia doesn’t seem to like the idea of facing Spence for his IBF title despite the big payday he would get if he won the IBF belt.
Here’s what Porter said on his Instagram in calling out Danny Garcia:
”Plain and simple Danny Swift Garcia; anytime, anyplace. Whatever I gotta do to get that green belt around my waist. #ThePorterWay #WBC #PorterGarcia #AlwaysReady #Greatness #TooMuchFunForFree. I just heard that the WBC would like ‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter to fight another title eliminator. And they want me to fight none other than the cherry picker himself – Danny Garcia. Well I say to you, Danny Garcia, let’s get it on! Ooohhh Yeahhh!”
Porter needs a big name like Garcia to take his career to the next level. Porter lost to Keith Thurman already, and he’s not been busy enough lately to make boxing fans forget about the loss. Porter fought just once in 2016 following his loss to Thurman. In 2017, Porter has once in beating Andre Berto in an ugly fight filled with head-butts. Porter needs to get back into the ring. A fight with Danny Garcia would be a great one. Porter hasn’t said anything about wanting to fight Errol Spence Jr. That would be a good fight if Porter can’t lure Garcia into facing him.
Garcia responded to the post by sending this replay to Porter:
“[laughing emojis] I’m laughing at you, not with you. Send the contract Bozo [clown emoji].”
It would be an interesting fight to see which of Thurman’s two victims emerges as the winner. The winner of a fight between Garcia and Porter would still have a lot of problems trying to beat Thurman due to his hand speed, punching power and mobility. I don’t know if either of them would do well in a second fight against Thurman. Garcia was too slow. Thurman made Garcia look average in the first 6 rounds before he let his foot off the accelerator. Porter was a much tougher fight for Thurman, but he still wasn’t good enough. Thurman also let his foot off the gas pedal at times in the second half of the fight with Porter. The scores for Thurman-Porter fight would have been a lot more lopsided if Thurman hadn’t let his concentration slip in the last 6 rounds.
This would be a good fight between Garcia and Porter if it happens. It would be a hard one for Garcia though, given how much punishment Porter’s last opponent Andre Berto took in their fight on April 22. Porter clashed heads with Berto a number of times in the process of stopping him in the 9th round. Berto complained afterwards of having a bad concussion from one of Porter’s head-butts.
Garcia would have to use movement to avoid getting nailed by Porter’s head if he attacked him in the same way he did Berto. It would be a fight that Garcia could wind up suffering cuts. It would be worth it for Garcia to take the fight if he wanted to gain credibility and win over more boxing fans while he waits on Thurman. Garcia might end up having to sit and heal for a while if he gets cut up in the process of beating Porter. I’m not sure that Garcia could beat Porter.
It would be a really hard fight for Garcia. Let’s put it this way. If Garcia uses the same clinch and low blow game plan that he employed in his win over Lucas Matthysse in 2013, then it would be very hard for Porter to beat him. Garcia was hitting Matthysse frequently with low blows, and grabbing him in a clinch to keep him from throwing shots. It was really hard fight or Matthysse, who was nailed constantly with low blows before the referee working the fight, Tony Weeks, finally took a point off from Garcia in the 12th. Garcia knocked Matthysse down in the 11th round after shoving him into the ropes where he was tangled and defenseless. It was a really strange knockdown. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a knockdown like that. Garcia shoves Matthysse into the ropes, causing him to get stuck, and then he tags him with shots while he’s snared in the ropes.
Whether Garcia is serious or not about wanting Porter to go ahead and send the contract is the magical question. I would be surprised if Garcia takes a fight with Porter. If Garcia has no interest in fighting for a world title against IBF champion Errol Spence, then why would he fight a mere contender like Porter with no world title on the line. Garcia would be better off just waiting for Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) to come back from his elbow surgery for a rematch later this year. Granted, it would mean that Garcia would need to wait another 4 to 5 months before he could face Thurman, but it might be well worth the wait.
Garcia has already been out of the ring for 4 months since losing to Thurman by a 12 round split decision on March 4. But, Garcia has only been fighting twice a year for the past 4 years. If Garcia faces Thurman in December, he’ll have fought twice in 2017. To be sure, Garcia wouldn’t be showing much in the way of courage for him to reject fights against Porter and Spence, but they wouldn’t be the first top level guys that Garcia has chosen not to fight in his career. Garcia seems to more of a businessman type of fighter rather than a guy that takes on all comers. Garcia is selective in who he faces, and he doesn’t tend to give rematches with his opposition, even when the outcome is controversial. Garcia moves on. If not for Thurman beating Garcia, there wouldn’t be much chance of them fighting each other again. Garcia would look for other guys to face.
Personally, I see Porter beating Garcia by a knockout if that fight happens. Porter knows how to deal with fighters that clinch constantly following his 12 round decision loss to Kell Brook. Porter was held frequently in nonstop clinching by Brook for 12 rounds. If Garcia is going to beat Porter, he would need to do in the traditional way without bending the rules by holding or using low blow tactics.