Porter v Brook: Can the Special One bring the world title back to Britain?
Published:It’s been a quiet few weeks in the ring for the fight game in the UK following the postponement of the domestic heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora but now it’s time for British boxing to get back into the spotlight with Kell Brook.
The Special One travels to the US to take on American Shawn Porter with the IBF world welterweight title on the line and this fight has all the ingredients to be a classic.
With someone’s ‘0’ set to go at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, Ladbrokes News’ @OliverYew gives his verdict on where the bout will be won or lost.
Strengths
Porter – Explosive Power
The unbeaten American is an extremely explosive and powerful welterweight, just ask the courageous Paulie Malignaggi.
It’s well known “The Magic Man”, a two-time world champion, is a genuine fighting man but that did not bother “Showtime” as he went on to record a devastating fourth round knockout win.
Porter is also very athletic, piling the pressure on his opponents with his work rate and with dynamite in his fists he is a tough nut to crack.
Brook – Speed and Power
The Englishman has the speed to trouble most of the world’s top welterweights but on the end of that speed is true welterweight power.
While Porter has an excellent chin he will have to show Brook’s power the respect it deserves because with the Sheffield star’s boxing skills and speed, opportunities to tag the American will arise.
Against Devon Alexander and Malignaggi Porter faced excellent boxers but neither had the firepower of Brook and that could be key factor in this fight.
Weaknesses
Porter – Strategy
At times during his career Porter has struggled against boxers who look to box their way through proceedings and control the tempo of the fight.
In the past the American has been accused of being a one-dimensional fighter and Brook will certainly look to take advantage of this with his boxing skills and speed, just as Julio Diaz did in his first meeting with Porter back in 2012.
The key question is whether Porter now has the answers to these frailties? We will find out on Saturday night!
Brook – Stamina
The Sheffield fighter had significant problems with his conditioning when his first fight with Carson Jones turned into a scrap and Porter possibly looking at spoiling in much the same way, Brook’s stamina will be called into question once again.
But with everything on the line for the 28-year-old in California expect trainer Dominic Ingle to have his man in the shape of his life.
The Verdict – Brook to win @7/4
It’s not often in boxing that you get two evenly matched fighters, both at the same stage of their careers, squaring off with absolutely everything on the line.
This is exactly what we will have when Porter and Brook go head-to-head at the StubHub Center on Saturday night and fight fans should lap up every minute of the action.
There are questions to be answered for both fighters with this being a step up in class and thankfully we will get all the answers on the night.
But here at Ladbrokes News we are backing Brook all the way with his boxing skills allowing him to stay clear of Porter’s bombs and his speed allowing him to land along the way.
In all honesty it would not be a surprise to see either result in California but at odds of 7/4 with Ladbrokes, Brook is the value if you are looking for a punt this weekend.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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