It's "Showtime" Shawn Porter

The regeneration of fighters continues…

When it was announced that “Showtime” Shawn Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs) was to take on crafty veteran Paulie Malignaggi (33-6, 7 KOs), my initial reaction was one of concern for the U.S. olympian out of Akron, Ohio.  Paulie’s been in the ring with some of the best fighters in the world including the likes of Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and most recently Adrien Broner.  For the most part, he held his own, only to succumb to the better fighter each and every time. 

What made Malignaggi such a formidable opponent and test for the young Porter, was his intelligence in the ring.  He’s a savvy vet whose mental prowess in the ring has overcome a lack of punching power.  Paulie’s overachieved in the fight game with pure intellect and will.  He was supposed to give Porter fits….

Fortunately for fight fans across the globe, the welterweight division has another star on its hands. 

Shawn Porter has flown under the radar so far in his young career.  His defeat of Devon Alexander on the Judah-Malignaggi card won the northeastern Ohio native his first title and tentatively opened the eyes of the boxing world. 

What makes Porter so intriguing is his energy in the ring.  If I were to compare his fighting style to another fighter, I’d say Shawn is a mix between a young Mike Tyson with a splash of Joe Frazier… all wrapped up in a welterweight’s body. 

Let’s not get confused… he hasn’t reached either of the aforementioned fighter’s level of dominance in the ring, but the similarities are there. 

In the Malignaggi fight, he did an incredible job of mixing up his approach.  He used his jab to get inside and unleashed lethal combinations in close quarters.  His strategy of keeping his distance and then quickly leaping in with his left hook kept Paulie confused and unable to defend himself. 

It took four rounds for Porter to obliterate Paulie Malignaggi and leave him lying half-way on a press table outside the ropes.  Paulie’s been stopped before… but never like that. 

The real question is what’s next for the rising star? So many options…

Coming into the fight with Paulie, I questioned his power.  When you have a boxer who fights with an aggressive/brawling style like Shawn Porter, you leave yourself wide open to be countered.  It’s a style where punching power is a must… and while I still question how much power Shawn possesses, his fourth round knockout of Paulie Malignaggi proved to me that he has enough to be successful. 

Will he become elite?  Only time will tell. 

A unification bout with Kell Brook (32-0, 22 KOs) looms and while the match is intriguing, I see it as just another stepping stone for Porter.  A clash with Keith Thurman (22-0, 20 KOs) would be great theater… A bout with Adrien Broner (27-1, 22 KOs) in the “Battle of Ohio” would be must-see-tv.  Regardless of what’s next for Shawn Porter, one thing is for certain… the kid is exciting and he can fight.