Shawn Porter Q&A: Talks Granados, Garcia, Broner and Thurman

By Boxing News - 10/12/2017 - Comments

Image: Shawn Porter Q&A: Talks Granados, Garcia, Broner and Thurman

By Ian Aldous: On Saturday November 4th, ‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter (27-2-1) will take on Adrian Granados (18-5-2), as he continues his journey to reclaim a welterweight world championship. The fight will serve as co-feature to Deontay Wilder vs. Bermane Stiverne 2 for the WBC world heavyweight championship, live on Showtime at 9pm ET/6pm PT, from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Earlier this week, Porter took some time away from camp to talk with me about the fight and his career so far.

IA: Up next for ‘Showtime’ is an assignment against Adrian Granados on November 4th. Please give me your thoughts on how good you think he is and what kind of a challenge he’ll bring to you.

SP: I think he’s good. I think he’s tough, he’s been around the block a couple of times now and he always seems to be in shape and tries to control the fight – that’s something I like to do as well. I think that’s why this fight was made.

IA: You have a common opponent in Adrien Broner, and both went twelve rounds with him. Obviously you defeated Broner but Granados was on the wrong end of a split decision. Were you impressed with how he competed against Broner?

SP: I was, because I didn’t know him. I wasn’t familiar with Adrian Granados and I didn’t know what to expect. I saw a guy who was tough, who wants to win and who wants to fight. With that being said, anybody who gets in the ring with Adrian Granados is in for a long night, and (it’s) also a very exciting match for the fans as well.

IA: Speaking of your victory over Broner. What was it like putting up with his antics before the fight and his persistent fouls during the bout? Was that your most satisfying professional win?

SP: Yeah, definitely a satisfying win. His antics were expected, I didn’t really allow it to bother me – I expected it. With that being said, I knew how to handle it for myself. I’m always saying ‘you can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?’ and I know it’s very hard to walk the walk against myself. It’s the same thing with Adrian Granados, I know that I can outbox him, I know I can use my speed. But for a lot of other guys, they thought the same (about beating Granados) and it was a lot easier said than done. I think the main thing is to go in there and stay focused on the game plan and execute.

IA: Currently you’re the WBC No.1 at 147lbs and Danny Garcia is No.2. Due to Keith Thurman being out injured, is it likely you’ll have to get through Garcia first, or are you mandatory challenger to Thurman regardless?

SP: I would not mind going through Danny Garcia at all. He’s a good fighter, he has a big name, a lot like Keith Thurman – it’s the fight of a lifetime.

IA: Your fight with Keith Thurman was an absolute classic. Despite ending up losing a razor-sharp decision, could you still take pride in your performance that night? It could’ve easily been 115-113 in your favor that night.

SP: Oh, definitely. Especially after watching the fight, I took a lot of pride in what I was able to do against him. I did a lot of things that no other opponent has been able to do against Keith Thurman. It’s like I said, we both did everything we could do to win the fight and he was the one to get the decision. But, trust me – I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring with him again.

IA: Earlier this year, you followed up the Thurman fight by stopping Andre Berto. Berto is anything but a tune-up opponent and a big risk. In your opinion, was that a make or break fight for you?

SP: I wasn’t worried about losing that fight. I’m never worried about losing. Only thing on my mind ever is winning and doing what needs to be done to win. Outside of that, I knew it was going to be a great fight and I knew it would most likely be the end for him, but that was never a thought in my mind for myself at all.

IA: You fought at a lot higher weights as an amateur and in your early professional days (as an amateur he defeated future professional middleweight and light-middleweight world champions in Danny Jacobs and Demetrius Andrade respectively), are you surprised that you’ve found your home as a 147lber?

SP: It’s funny you asked that because I was actually thinking that this morning as I trained. I was thinking about how far I’ve come in this sport and I never imagined I’d be fighting at 147lbs. My strength and conditioning coach actually from time to time talks about me going down to 140lbs and then we laugh about it because we don’t really think that’s a reality for myself. I’ve come a long way fighting at 147lbs and I’m definitely surprised that this is where I ended up. I expected to end up at 154lbs, but 147lbs became it!

IA: Obviously if fights come up at 154lbs – I’m sure you’d make the move?

SP: That hasn’t happened yet, we’re still trying to figure out if that will happen, and if so, when.

IA: Let’s go back to the night you won the IBF welterweight world championship. Devon Alexander was a well respected champion at the time, you hurt him several times early in the fight – did those early rounds make you believe you belonged at the top level of the sport? It kind of felt like you’d arrived then.

SP: For sure. Getting in the ring with him, I knew what I could do, I think a lot of people out there still weren’t familiar with me and what I could do in this sport. (It was) Never a surprise to me at all about where I ended up in that ring with Devon Alexander, and no surprise to me where I am now either.

IA: Finally, what’s going to happen on November 4th?

SP: We’re going to do our best to stop Adrian Granados and that’s what we prepare for now. We’re preparing not to leave it up to the judges and do what we have to do to make the fight clean-cut and dried that Shawn Porter is the winner and we understand the only way to do that is knocking out someone. We’re prepared to go in there, outbox him, hurt him and take him out.

On Saturday November 4th, former welterweight world champion ‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter will battle Adrian Granados in the featured bout of a stacked undercard for Deontay Wilder vs. Bermane Stiverne at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™, in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. Unbeaten contender Sergey Lipinets will take on Akihiro Kondo for the vacant IBF Junior Welterweight World Championship to open the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader beginning live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.