Broner vs Porter to be held at catchweight on June 20

The Los Angeles Times reports that a June 20 PBC on NBC fight between Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter is being finalized, with the two headed to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a catchweight showdown.

Broner (30-1, 22 KO) and Porter (25-1-1, 16 KO) will meet at a catchweight of 144 or 145 pounds, with Porter campaigning as a welterweight, where he briefly held the IBF title, and Broner as a junior welterweight in his last two fights. The two Ohio-born fighters were asked about a possible fight by the Cleveland Plain-Dealer in March, and Porter was all for it, while Broner was skeptical about Porter's name value:

"That would be great for the state," Porter said. "I've heard that a fight between me and Broner should take place at a neutral site, like in Columbus. But I say no. Let's do it where LeBron plays and have some fun and do it big."

Broner, who said Cincinnati has better fighters than Cleveland, said Porter doesn't have a big enough name for him to fight.

"The question should be if Porter gets to where I've been, than we'll fight," Broner said. "I hope he does someday and becomes a big-time contender in the sport and we'll make it happen."

The fight won't happen in their home state, but it looks like it's happening regardless. Broner, 25, beat John Molina in a dull 12-round decision on the March 7 PBC premiere on NBC in his last fight, while Porter, 27, is coming off of a win over short notice replacement Erick Boné on the March 13 PBC on Spike show.

June 20 has become a pretty loaded day and night for boxing on American TV, as NBC will have this PBC card, BET has the return of Andre Ward, and HBO will be likely airing a show from Montreal featuring David Lemieux vs Hassan N'damfor the vacant IBF middleweight belt, though that has not been officially announced as of yet.