Khan vs Molina: Shawn Porter to face Julio Diaz on undercard

Welterweight prospect Shawn Porter will face veteran and former lightweight titlist Julio Diaz on December 15, part of the Amir Khan-Carlos Molina undercard at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Showtime will televise the card.

Porter (20-0, 15 KO) last fought on July 28, beating Alfonso Gomez in a very entertaining bout on the Guerrero-Aydin undercard, also televised by Showtime. The 25-year-old from Akron, Ohio, is settled in now at welterweight, having fought much of the early stages of his career at junior middleweight. A short, compact fighter with a powerful frame, Porter has gone unbeaten so far, and is considered a strong prospect with world title potential by some, but has his doubters, too.

Diaz (40-7, 29 KO) briefly held the IBF lightweight belt in 2007 before losing it to Juan Diaz in a one-sided contest. Since then, Diaz has gone 6-3 in fights at 135, 140, and 147 pounds. The 32-year-old Mexican has won two straight, last fighting on September 29, when he beat Hector Sanchez. Most probably saw him last when he was obliterated by Kendall Holt on ESPN Friday Night Fights in May 2011.

It's a fight Porter should win, and is all about getting him more exposure, against a familiar name who knows his way around the ring. Porter has plenty of time to get into the contenders at 147, and plenty of time to work his way there to make sure he's truly ready to mix it up with the best. He's served as a sparring partner in the past for Manny Pacquiao.