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Shawn Porter isn’t the favorite against Errol Spence Jr, but the WBC welterweight titleholder believes he’s going to surprise a lot of people — most importantly, Errol Spence himself.
The two meet on Sept. 28 in a FOX pay-per-view main event, with the WBC and Spence’s IBF welterweight title on the line.
“Shawn Porter is going to leave the ring with two belts,” Porter said at a media workout. “I’m going to hit him. I’m going to hit him hard and I’m going to do things you’ve never seen anyone do against Errol Spence.
Porter, 31, believes that the 29-year-old Spence has never faced any real adversity in the ring, and that when he gets to Spence (25-0, 21 KO), he’ll take him into the deep waters and test his resolve like nobody has to date.
”I’m expecting there to be adversity for Errol,” he said. “There’s going to be a moment where he realizes he’s losing this fight. He has to be solid psychologically. I don’t know if he’s going to be in the ring. I believe I have the advantage there and that I know how to get into his head.”
Porter (30-2-1, 17 KO) also said that he’s seen signs of arrogance, not just confidence, in the undefeated Spence.
”I think Errol’s confidence is natural like mine. But I think that he’s fed his confidence to the point where some arrogance has come out,” he said. “I think he’s going to show that in the fight early on. He’s going to have to adjust. Once he recognizes that, I expect the arrogance to go out the window and that he’ll have to figure it out.
”I’ve never seen Errol go through any adversity in the ring. I don’t think anyone has been able to challenge him the way I can challenge him. I’m really looking forward to it.
”There’s a combination that comes from Shawn Porter that you can’t get anywhere else. It’s the speed, power, agility and intelligence. You have to make a lot of adjustments on the fly and be ready. I’m hard to prepare for. Spence probably has one or two things that he’s expecting, but it’s not going to go that way.”
Porter speaks from experience, saying he’s been where Spence was, and that he’s had to learn there’s more to being successful at the top tier than just relying on your natural abilities.
”I’ve been in Errol’s position before and I know what it’s like to think that all I had to do was show up and be me. I’ve gotten to a point where I realize now that I have to do more,” he said.
Porter says that the key will be to find out if Spence can actually adjust if things aren’t going his way, something he hasn’t had to do much as a professional. He also doesn’t discount that Spence is, in fact, a fantastic fighter.
”I don’t think there’s too much to figure out with Errol. The game plan is to make him make the adjustments,” he said. “Things don’t always go to plan, but I still think I know what he wants to do in there. He’s not going to give you a lot to adjust to, but what he does do, he’s supreme and he’s great at.”
As for the pressure of the fight night, Porter sees it being on Spence much more than himself.
”I think Errol has a lot more to lose in this fight,” he said. “He’s never had to deal with a loss, and most people aren’t expecting him to lose. He’s in the perfect position being considered a top welterweight. But from my perspective, I just have absolutely no intention on losing.”