Porter Vs. Ugas Preview

The last time “Showtime” Shawn Porter fought at the Dignity Health Sports Park, (formerly known as the StubHub Center) he lost his newly gained IBF Welterweight World Championship title to Kell Brook in August 2014.

Five years later, Porter returns to the same venue with a new welterweight world championship, and this time he’s confident to hold onto his newly gained WBC Welterweight Title he grabbed from Danny “Swift” Garcia last year.

“I’ve matured mentally in the ring and I know that I am ready for this opportunity now to defend my belt,” said Porter. “Not saying that I didn’t understand it back then, not saying that I took it for granted. I just know that now I’m ready to really defend this belt and I got everything that it takes to defend it. Not just once, but multiple times.”

The now two-time world champion will make his first defense of his WBC title against his mandatory, Yordenis Ugas this Saturday, March 9^th, as the main event on the Premier Boxing Champion fight card (airs on FOX).

Since his return to the sport of boxing, Ugas has been on an eight-fight win streak, including his unanimous decision win over Thomas Dulorme, in which he was the replacement for Porter. Ugas departed from boxing in early 2014 due to his wife’s well being, plus his own personal set backs, but returned in late 2016.

In his amateur days, the 32- year old Cuban was one of the best in the world and won an Olympic bronze in 2008. Ugas started his professional boxing career as a welterweight, before dropping down to junior welterweight. Upon his return, Ugas decided to return to the welterweight division, and is getting the chance at a world title for the very first time in his career.  

What concerns Porter the most about Ugas is that “he throws punches like a Cuban fighter,” said the 31 year old, explaining how Cuban fighters throw punches in angles. “They’re gonna come different and finish different.”

Though, when it comes to levels of boxing, Porter has another perspective on Ugas. “In order to not understand him, you have to understand that he fought on that level as an amateur,” said Porter. “He fought at that level as an amateur consistently for a number of years, and I think one way or another it’s training him to be ready for this kind of environment, this kind of opportunity.”

Ugas understands the level of what Porter brings to the table. “I’m fighting obviously with a top tier fighter, a legit champion. He’s a great fighter and I ready to compete, I’m ready to win this world title and it’s going to be a great fight,” said Ugas through a translator.

“Shawn Porter is a strong fighter, he’s a great guy. He’s a clashing type fighter, and I’m a clashing type fighter, so we are going to stand in the middle ring and we’re going to find out who’s going to go backwards.”