This Saturday, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, someone’s “0” must go. The undefeated, reigning IBF welterweight champion of the world “Showtime” Shawn Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs) will match up with fellow undefeated challenger Kell Brook (32-0, 22 KOs). Kell Brook will be coming across the pond from the United Kingdom looking to upset one of the best young fighters from the United States on his home turf. The 26 year old Porter won his world title last December in Brooklyn after upsetting former two division champion, Devon Alexander. Porter followed up his breakout victory earlier this April by knocking out another former two division champ, Paulie Malignaggi, in just four rounds. The two performances by Porter transformed his career from being just another young contender, to now holding a world title and headlining a championship triple-header to be broadcasted by Showtime. Not bad for “Showtime”.
Each fighter has a very big opportunity in front of him. Kell Brook has his first chance at a world championship. Brook comes from one of the most Boxing crazed countries in the world, the U.K. which is home to fellow welterweight contender Amir Khan. If Brook can pull off a upset not only will he have won his first world title, but he also will have set up a potential windfall of cash for himself. A fight between Khan and Kell Brook, if it were for the IBF welterweight world title, would be the first fight between two British fighters for a welterweight title in who knows how long? Brook can lure Khan into the ring and climb from out of his shadow if he can pull off the upset this Saturday in Carson.
For Shawn Porter, as mentioned previously, this is his first shot at headlining a nationally televised championship card. Porter himself could set up a potential big time fight with his own fellow countrymen, Keith “One Time” Thurman. Both the Porter and Thurman camps have discussed a future fight, Thurman’s trainer Dan Birmingham called the potential fight “inevitable”. However, the only way Boxing fans ever see Porter-Thurman is if Porter can get past Kell Brook first, something that should not be easy. If Porter can beat the undefeated Brook after beating up on Alexander and Malignaggi, he will have set himself up nicely for 2015.
This Saturday in Carson, California we will see which fighters gets to keep his “0”. Porter-Brook will be broadcasted on Showtime this Saturday.
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