PBC on CBS Fight Preview

Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter

This was supposed to be a fight that already had an outcome.  However, after a car accident left Keith Thurman injured his fight against Shawn Porter was delayed.  This Saturday that fight will finally happen and it will air in prime time on CBS.  The fight is scheduled to go 12 rounds and Thurman's WBA welterweight title will be on the line.  The winner of this fight won't just walk away with the WBA belt though, they can also lay claim to being the best young welterweight in the sport.

Thurman was vulnerable against Collazo

Thurman fights out of the orthodox stance and has shown pretty good patience for a young power puncher just not entering his prime.  However, in his last fight against Luis Collazo he was hurt to the body and didn't exactly react well.  Thurman also opens up too wide with his power punches at times and doesn't always protect his chin.  Offensively though Thurman has plenty of weapons including a very stiff jab that he will land to the head or body.  Along with that jab Thurman has a strong left hook that does damage but his best weapon may actually be his right hand.  With that right hand Thurman will unload with dangerous uppercuts and accurate straight right hands.  Thurman's patience should come into play against Porter who is always rushing head on towards his opponent. 

While Thurman hasn't fought any fighter that would be considered elite yet that doesn't mean his resume is weak.  In fact he has plenty of notable wins on his resume including ones over Collazo, Robert Guerrero, Jesus Soto Karass, and Diego Chaves.  Usually Thurman handles his opponents fairly easily outside of a late comeback from Guerrero and the time he was hurt to the body against Collazo.  As a pro Thurman has been perfect with a record of 26-0 and a very impressive 22 knockouts.  Saturday's fight against Porter will be the biggest of Thurman's career not only because of the opponent but also because of the stage.

Porter was dropped in his most recent fight

Porter is probably the most athletic man in boxing and looks like he could be an NFL running back.  Yet that athleticism doesn't mean he is the most skillfull of boxers.  In fact Porter's skills are questionable but his style works for him.  He is ultra aggressive and never lets up.  Porter fights out of the orthodox stance and with quick hands he has shown a nice jab and straight right hand.  Along with those punches Porter also has a good left hook and on the inside he will often let loose with uppercuts and overhand rights.  However, Porter also will leap in with his punches and often finds himself out of position because of that and getting out of position against a puncher like Thurman is not a good idea.

When it comes to the resume of Porter he has a good one despite a few blemishes.  He has wins over Adrien Broner, although he was dropped in the last round of that fight, Paulie Malignaggi, and Devon Alexander.  As for the blemishes they are a draw to Julio Diaz, who Thurman forced to retire on his stool after three rounds, and a loss to Kell Brook who may have exposed Porter as having trouble with slick boxers.  Still, the record of Porter is an impressive 26-1-1 with 16 knockouts.  It can be argued that Porter's fight against Brook was bigger than his fight with Thurman will be but it certainly wasn't as hyped.

The interesting thing about this fight will be watching how both men handle the other's style.  Thurman has more power and counters nicely at times so if Porter just rushes and leaps in as usual he may find himself on the canvas.  But if Porter can leap in and hurt Thurman and not let up Thurman may find himself in trouble much like he was against Collazo.  The difference in this fight could be space though.  Porter finds more success as a bully on the inside while Thurman is able to be successful from a distance or in the pocket, making him the more versatile fighter.

PREDICTION: Shawn Porter will be very active and never stop trying but he doesn't have the boxing skills or power of Keith Thurman.  The fight will start close but in the middle rounds Thurman will start to box more and pull away.  Porter may comeback later in the fight but a late knockdown will seal the unanimous decision win for Thurman.

Jarrett Hurd vs. Oscar Molina

The co-feature for Saturday's CBS card was supposed to be a title fight between Abner Mares and Jesus Cuellar.  Instead it will be a fight between two undefeated prospects in Jarrett Hurd and Oscar Molina.  That is because Mares had eye issues that cause him to fail his physical which canceled the fight.  The new fight is scheduled to go 10 rounds in the junior middleweight division where both Hurd and Molina are looking to make a splash.  

Hurd was impressive in his last fight

Hurd, whose nickname is "Swift" definitely moves well in the ring out of the orthodox stance.  Yet he also has a bad habit of keeping his hands low and not worrying about return punches.  What Hurd does do a good job of is banging to the body and he counters well.  Hurd has a very short left hook that can do damage along with a right hand that won him his last fight against Frank Galarza.  This will be a big stage for Hurd and a win would certainly open some new doors for him.

At only 25-years-old Hurd is still on the rise.  He has yet to be tested by any top talent and the best opponents he has faced thus far was Galarza who is good but far from elite.  Hurd did impress in that fight though, stopping Galarza in the sixth round.  Against Molina, Hurd will put his perfect record of 17-0 with 11 knockouts on the line and he hopes to come away with that perfect record intact.

Hurd may be Molina's toughest opponent yet 

Molina fights out of the orthodox stance also and he has shown good power albeit against lesser opposition.  While Molina doesn't jab much he does get inside behind a dangerous left hook.  That left hook, which is short and sweet, is Molina's best punch.  However, he will also throw a winging right hand that can do damage if it lands.  The problem for Molina is that he fights better from the inside but since he lacks a serious jab he may have a hard time getting in close.

While Hurd doesn't have the most impressive resume as far as opponents go Molina's is actually worse.  His record is an impressive 13-0-1 with 10 knockouts but he hasn't faced any notable names and is coming off of a draw in his last fight.  

The big difference in this fight should be the height and reach of Hurd.  Hurd stands at 6-feet 1-inches tall and has a reach of nearly 77 inches.  Meanwhile, Molina is only 5-feet 9-inches tall and his reach is almost a full 7-inches shorter.  Because of that major height and reach advantage Hurd could win this fight by sitting on the outside and picking Molina apart with his jab as he comes in.  For Molina to win he will have to consistently get inside the pocket and hurt Hurd.

PREDICTION: Oscar Molina may be the bigger puncher so he will have a puncher's chance but Jarrett Hurd is taller, longer, and more skilled.  All Hurd needs to do in this fight is stay on the outside and pick Molina apart as he comes in because Molina doesn't usually try to get inside behind his jab like he should.  This won't be the prettiest fight of the night but Hurd will be happy when he comes away with the unanimous decision victory.