Shawn Porter and Paulie Malignaggi are very different fighters, and that clash of styles is going to be good news for one of them this Saturday night, and bad news for the other. But which is which?
Both Porter (23-0-1, 14 KO) and Malignaggi (33-5, 7 KO) see their approach being the one that will win the fight.
"Paulie is a good fighter, he's skillful, crafty and smart," said Porter, who is making the first defense of his IBF welterweight title. "I have everything it takes to beat him, I'm just as fast, just as quick. We're going to go after him Saturday night."
Said Malignaggi, "Shawn Porter is a young, hungry guy who wants to make his mark on the sport, but I'm in his way. He's aggressive. He's got a certain physicality, but we'll be ready for him."
The edge in experience definitely goes to the 33-year-old Malignaggi, one of the smartest fighters in the sport today. The former 140 and 147-pound titlist has seen pretty much everything he can see in the ring, but Porter, 26, looked great in his December win over Devon Alexander, which was considered an upset at the time.
For this fight, Porter comes in as a mild favorite to retain his title, but Malignaggi has certainly been the underdog before, defying the odds several times over his 13-year professional career.
This will be the first pro fight in Washington, D.C., for both men, and they're eager to make their pro debuts in the capital.
"I enjoy being here, it's experience," Malignaggi said. "I fought in D.C. in the amateurs, and this is my first time as a professional. So this is a great welcome back."
"I'm excited to being fighting in D.C. for the first time. I've been training well and the team is working very hard. We're excited to get out there Saturday night and show what we can do," Porter added.