BoxRec News picks: Kell Brook v Shawn Porter

Arguably the biggest fight this year involving a Brit takes place in Carson, California on Saturday Night when Kell Brook takes on Shawn Porter for the IBF welterweight title. Porter goes into the fight as a firm favourite. Here, a selection of BoxRec News scribes give their thoughts on what might happen. Tony Mayger: “Kell Brook finally gets his world title shot and I hope he’s top fit and ready to put in a career best performance because he’ll need one to beat the Porter, the reigning IBF champion. It seems as though he’s got himself in very good physical condition so as long as his sparring has been good, I think he’ll have a great chance to bring that belt home. As a patriotic Brit I would like nothing more than to see Kell bask in world championship glory. He has the skills to give Porter an uncomfortable night, but still I can't help feeling that Porter will win a close decision. I do hope I am wrong.” Chris Walker: "An intriguing fight and one that sees Sheffield's Kell Brook finally enter world class. Shawn Porter has looked the business in his last couple of fights and he possesses the big fight experience that Brook badly misses. I expect Kell to put in an honourable performance but he'll fall well short on the judges scorecards. Porter UD.” Matt Gipon: “Looking at things from Porter's perspective it doesn't look rosy for the Yorkshireman. Porter has been paired with an unbeaten prospect for his second world title defence and he hasn't flinched. His two most recent opponents, former world champions Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi, couldn't figure out the Ohioan's style and Porter has plenty of experience going 10 rounds or more. 'Special K' can be one-dimensional and has faded in the latter rounds of fights before. I think Brook could be in trouble late on but I am placing my money on the American by decision.” Phil Lindsay: "Some fights are impossible to predict, simply because we don't have enough information to make all of the calculations. There are genuine reasons for concern from a UK perspective. Although Brook has done little wrong since switching to the pro ranks, many have questioned the resistance of his management to step up the level of competition. Have they had concerns about his punch resistance or ability to mix at the highest level? There are many fans out there who believe this to be the case but we simply do not know....yet. I can see this one going the distance. I can also see Brook doing enough to win, however he will have to win it by a good few rounds if he is to get the decision away from home comforts. The early rounds are going to be key. How will either fighter react if the early rounds don't go to plan? Porter has clearly fought the better opposition and that could be the tipping point in terms of preparation. With this in mind, I am going to go for a Porter win on points, but I wouldn't be surprised if either man scored a stoppage in the later rounds." Martin Supple: “Finally, this is the Kell Brook step-up we have been waiting for. It's a tough assignment, coming on foreign soil, but is facing in Porter a fighter arguably still growing into his status as world champion. I have the same opinion on this as I had for the aborted Brook - Alexander fight. That being I don't see a vast difference in ability between the two fighters, and would favour either man to prevail on home turf. Porter beating Alexander wasn't a huge surprise, but Porter ripping into and stopping Paulie Malignaggi was. The form line displays Malignaggi as the man who smashed Vyacheslav Senchenko to pieces - Senchenko perhaps the best name so far on Brook's CV. Being equally matched, they will hopefully bring the best out of each other. I can't see anything other than a 12 round distance fight, with Brook needing to assert himself right from the off. Kell certainly has the artillery to impress the judges, but can't afford to switch off for a single moment as he has been guilty of in the past. With such slender margins, I do wonder what it would have taken to bring Shaun Porter to England. Is Brook still strong and effective at 147 pounds? Am I reading too much into it? Probably. Porter on points.” Michael Nashed (US): “The words most often used to describe IBF welterweight champion, Shawn Porter, may be "rugged" or "sturdy," and for good reason. Porter's physical style is designed to impose his larger (by welterweight standards) frame and has been effective against to-date competition at 147lbs. While Kell Brook won't give away any height or reach to Porter, the two fighters should differ in their ability to absorb punishment. Porter, a former middleweight, should outlast Brook for a less than aesthetically appealing points victory.” Nelson Stanley: “Sawn-off Duracell Bunny with smaller ears meets athletically-gifted Ingle unorthodoxy. If Brook’s half as good as his fan-base claim, he can pile up enough points early on take a close decision. If the fade versus Jones wasn’t a one-off, he’ll get run over late on as tiredness exposes his lack of head movement. Yes, this fence is nice and warm, thank you.” Danny Wright: “This is the most interesting matchup of the year, closely followed by Frankie Gavin against Leonard Bundu last month. This is where we get to find out if Brook’s got the minerals as well as the tools. He has an opportunity to shine against an in-form champion whose stock has risen considerably in his last two fights. Many insist Porter is the real deal. I can’t help feeling there’s perhaps been a bit too much attention paid to the manner of victory against Paulie Malignaggi, who had a great run at welterweight. It’s disappointing that Brook doesn’t appear to have universal support from the UK boxing public. There’s been lots of forumites and twitter luvvies insisting he’s not world class, when the reality is that they just don’t know. They could well be right, but Brook hasn’t done anything since the 2012 fight against Carson Jones to suggest to me that he isn’t capable of snatching the title from Porter. Will he? I’ve absolutely no idea, so I phoned up Mystic Meg, who dusted down her crystal ball, and this is what she told me. Points. Close. Brook will get the nod, and if he doesn’t, he certainly won’t let anyone down Ian McNeilly: “Kell Brook is the most talented English fighter of his generation. This line alone will have some people spitting out their Vimto, because he has yet to live up to it. That doesn't mean he won't. He's got it all, though he does allow himself to get tagged more often than he should. Like a thoroughbred racehorse, sometimes he only comes off the bridle when he needs to. Circumstances have conspired to make him far less active than desired and the vacuum has been filled by haters. The inactivity won't help (though four fights in two years has sadly become the norm) and neither will the venue. However, I take his talent to shine through. Brook will begin to fulfill his promise with a win on Saturday night.” Kell Brook v Shawn Porter for the IBF welterweight title will be shown on Sky Sports from 2am this Sunday (17th August). All Sky Sports channels are free to view for Sky and Virgin Media customers from 6am on Saturday 16th through to 6am the following morning, which covers the whole Brook v Porter card. FrontNewsFeaturesOpinionEditorial

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