Spence vs Porter preview: Tale of the Tape

Errol Spence Jr takes on Shawn Porter in tonight’s FOX pay-per-view main event from Los Angeles, a welterweight unification for Spence’s IBF title and Porter’s WBC.

Here’s how the two match up:

Spence is a little younger, unbeaten, more highly-regarded, and is unbeaten in four world title fights. Porter’s taken a couple of losses in world title bouts, but he’s 4-2 in those fights, not a bad mark at all.

Physically, Spence is a bit taller with a reach advantage, but if Porter can fight his fight, that won’t be the biggest issue, as Shawn likes to get inside and maul. The question is whether or not Porter can effectively do his thing, or if Spence is simply too skilled, inside or outside.

There’s another world title fight on the show, too, as Anthony Dirrell defends the WBC super middleweight title against David Benavidez, who previously held the belt and was stripped due to a drug test failure.

They’re about the same height, Benavidez has some reach on Dirrell. The big thing is clearly the age difference: Dirrell is 12 years older than Benavidez, who is young and hungry and can be really explosive, putting together great combinations. Dirrell is a good boxer, but has never been elite. Benavidez is hoping to become elite, and if he’s what he’s cracked up to be, should win this fight.

You can also pretty much disregard the bizarre BoxRec rankings for both of these guys — it’s a division where their system is a little wonky compared to the general beliefs about the top fighters in the division. These guys are both ranked below John Ryder and Rocky Fielding and Vladimir Shishkin and Willie Monroe Jr, which you’ll not find on any other list. Maybe a sanctioning body list.