CARSON, Calif.-- Certain fighters just always seem to hang around title opportunities. They are like the guys who jump into a girl's direct messages as soon as she changes her relationship status to single. Shawn Porter is one of those guys. Even when he doesn't hold a belt he's always in the discussion to get another shot at one. Currently he holds the WBC welterweight title and will make his first defense against Yordenis Ugas on March 9 in primetime on Fox.
Porter (29-2-1, 17 KOs) remains one of the most athletic fighters in the sport. He also has a seemingly bottomless pit of stamina that makes up for what he lacks in actual skills. Porter loves to come forward and exchange leather in the pocket, even if that means he will sometimes smother his own offense. Clinching comes often in Porter fights and he actually uses those clinches to impose his strength on his opponents and wear them down. Along with his strength and stamina Porter also puts in plenty of good body work and has a hard right hand along with a solid chin that helps him fight the way he does.
Despite losing his first two world title shots, Porter never seems to leave the picture. After beating Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi in back-to-back fights Porter got his first title shot against Kell Brook but dropped a majority decision. He then won two fights, including a unanimous decision over Adrien Broner, before getting another title shot against Keith Thurman. Again Porter lost but after beating Andre Berto and Adrian Granados he met Danny Garcia for the vacant WBC title and came away with the close unanimous decision. Now that Porter has reached the pinnacle he has to stay there and his first chance to defend his new title will come against Ugas.
At 32 years old and nine years into his professional career Ugas (23-3, 11 KOs) will be getting his first title shot. Ugas prefers to fight from the middle distance where he can stay busy with his jab and follow it up with an accurate straight right hand. He also has a pretty good left hook but he could have problems against Porter. Ugas doesn't like to fight on the inside and will look to escape quickly when he finds himself at close range. If he wants to leave the ring with Porter's WBC strap he will need to stay very busy with his jab and control the distance but against Porter controlling the distance is never easy.
Ugas put together a highly successful amateur career but has yet to match that success as a pro. He's lost three fights, including one to Amir Imam, the second of back-to-back losses. Since that loss to Imam in 2014 Ugas has gone 8-0 with four knockouts but while his opponents were certainly credible they weren't what you'd call elite, the best of the bunch being Thomas Dulorme. Porter represents a big step up in competition for Ugas as a pro and he will need to rise to the occassion if he wants to capture his first world title.
Like many of Porter's fights this one could be sloppy. Porter never makes things pretty and his fights, while exciting, aren't usually the most visually pleasing. Expect him to rush in on Ugas and try to make things rough on the inside as per usual. This fight is all about distance. If Porter can get inside and stay inside he will come away with the win. That is why the jab and straight right hand of Ugas are so important. If he can stay busy with his jab and keep Porter on the outside while also making him pay with hard right hands he could leave the ring with Porter's WBC title.
PREDICTION: Shawn Porter seems like a guy who is destined not to defend his title too many times. His style leaves too much to the judges and isn't very pretty. His style works for him though and that rough and tumble style will be enough to successfully defend his title against Yordenis Ugas. It will be a close fight but Porter will come away with the victory by the way of close unanimous decision.
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| Porter catching Danny Garcia with a big right hand |
Despite losing his first two world title shots, Porter never seems to leave the picture. After beating Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi in back-to-back fights Porter got his first title shot against Kell Brook but dropped a majority decision. He then won two fights, including a unanimous decision over Adrien Broner, before getting another title shot against Keith Thurman. Again Porter lost but after beating Andre Berto and Adrian Granados he met Danny Garcia for the vacant WBC title and came away with the close unanimous decision. Now that Porter has reached the pinnacle he has to stay there and his first chance to defend his new title will come against Ugas.
At 32 years old and nine years into his professional career Ugas (23-3, 11 KOs) will be getting his first title shot. Ugas prefers to fight from the middle distance where he can stay busy with his jab and follow it up with an accurate straight right hand. He also has a pretty good left hook but he could have problems against Porter. Ugas doesn't like to fight on the inside and will look to escape quickly when he finds himself at close range. If he wants to leave the ring with Porter's WBC strap he will need to stay very busy with his jab and control the distance but against Porter controlling the distance is never easy.
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| Ugas digging to the body with a right hand |
Like many of Porter's fights this one could be sloppy. Porter never makes things pretty and his fights, while exciting, aren't usually the most visually pleasing. Expect him to rush in on Ugas and try to make things rough on the inside as per usual. This fight is all about distance. If Porter can get inside and stay inside he will come away with the win. That is why the jab and straight right hand of Ugas are so important. If he can stay busy with his jab and keep Porter on the outside while also making him pay with hard right hands he could leave the ring with Porter's WBC title.
PREDICTION: Shawn Porter seems like a guy who is destined not to defend his title too many times. His style leaves too much to the judges and isn't very pretty. His style works for him though and that rough and tumble style will be enough to successfully defend his title against Yordenis Ugas. It will be a close fight but Porter will come away with the victory by the way of close unanimous decision.
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