Shawn Porter shared the ring with a number of generational greats during his professional career, including pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford.
‘Showtime’ became a two-time world welterweight champion during the course of his tenure, capturing world honours for the first time back in 2013 when he defeated countryman Devon Alexander to win the IBF title.
Porter then became the WBC welterweight champion five years on from his first title triumph, defeating Danny Garcia via unanimous decision at the Barclays Center in New York City.
The Cleveland-native fell short in his attempt at becoming a three-time welterweight champion in November 2021 when he was stopped in the 10th round of his showdown with pound-for-pound great ‘Bud’ Crawford, who held the WBO welterweight crown at the time of their clash in Las Vegas.
In a feature with The Ring Magazine, Porter was asked to reveal the strongest fighter that he ever shared the ring with, naming former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr just ahead of Crawford.
“It was Errol and Terence, but I would say Errol, he was sturdy. Funny thing with Errol, when I punched him, he came right back. A lot of guys, like Keith, he was always trying to find moments, and I was all over Keith, whereas Errol was like, ‘OK, we’re gonna fight.’ I was forcing him to fight but he didn’t backdown and he could stand up to what I was giving him; he was strong enough.”
Porter faced Spence for the unified WBC and IBF welterweight titles in September 2019, suffering a close split decision defeat at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
‘The Truth’ would go on to face ‘Bud’ Crawford a few years later in their historic showdown for the undisputed welterweight championship, where ‘Bud’ put on an outstanding display against Spence, stopping him in the ninth round to become the first fighter to capture all four major world welterweight titles within the ‘four belt era’.
Spence is yet to return to the sport, though he has been linked with Jermell Charlo at super-welterweight.
