Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter meet on Saturday, Sept. 28 in a welterweight unification pay-per-view bout. Here’s what they had to say to the media.
IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. is one boxing’s best fighters, but he has a valid test in WBC champion Shawn Porter. The two meet in a FOX Sports PBC pay-per-view event on Saturday, Sept. 28. Spence is the consensus pre-fight favorite, but Porter is a battle-tested veteran.
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Spence and Porter spoke to the media via conference call. Both men are incredibly confident. Here’s what they had to say a little more than a week before their showdown.
Shawn Porter quotes to the media:
Question: So it is Spence specifically that you wanted to fight or was it Spence was a guy that had one of the other world titles?
Porter: I think it’s Spence specifically. I think it’s specifically Spence because of not only him having a belt but who is and what he’s done in the sport so far. Being undefeated and, again, being coined as the boogeyman of the division I’m like, “Yo, I need that. I need to beat that guy. I need to fight that guy.” And so that’s where the hunger really comes from for me.
Q: Spence has said he’s going to knock you out and there are other people who have said that he’s going to be the first person to do that. Has that surprised you or driven you at all because you’ve always shown such a great chin?
I’m not surprised to hear him say he wants to knock me out. He’s even said I’m going to knock you out. I’m not surprised to hear him say that because I know his mentality. I know who he is as a person. He’s very, very driven and competitive, and I get that. The part about it for me is I think he may be trying to psyche himself out into thinking he can do it.
I think I have a proven chin. I’ve got a record for saying no fighter really wants to prove his chin. We never want to get hit, get hurt, anything like that but I’ve taken some pretty good shots from some top guys out there, and I’ve managed to handle that and win and come out on top.
So when it comes to Errol Spence, I don’t look at his power any different than anyone else I’ve been in the ring with and I’m going to go at him like I’ve gone at Keith Thurman, like I’ve gone at Danny Garcia, like I’ve gone at Yordenis Ugas, Devon Alexander and the list goes on from there.
Q: Shawn, he said that you were a dirty fighter obviously in one of those FOX shows. Does that bother you, or what was your opinion of that?
No, it doesn’t bother me. I think that’s his perspective. I think there may have been looking at film of me maybe and pulling on some things that he can take advantage of and he may think that my roughness, he’s misconstruing that for dirtiness.
If he can’t handle the roughness then you will find out real soon, and if that’s what’s working for us well then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll be rough, we’ll be hard, we’ll be rugged, we’ll keep the pressure on him, and we all know pressure bursts pipes.
Q: When you look at Errol’s style, how do you see that faring against your style compared to when you fought Ugas? Do you see yourself having an easier or harder time dealing with Errol compared to Ugas?
No comparison. I think styles makes fights. I think you said it yourself. They’re two completely different styles. I think that they both have or in Yordenis’ case had, things that present problems for anyone that are in the ring.
I think for me I think my speed and my quickness against Errol Spence is definitely going to be superior. I think my foot movement is going to be superior and I think that it’s going to open up a lot more opportunities. I think that Yordenis in the ring with me was a little confused. He was expecting me to have a different style than I came to him with and I think that really shook him up. I’m expecting to shake up Errol Spence.
Errol Spence Jr. quotes to the media:
Question: Porter seems to be a guy that would be more your equal than maybe your past few opponents. What is your opinion of that?
Spence: I see him as a tough opponent. He’s the world champion, and he throws a lot of punches. He is very energetic. So that’s why he’s a success. He’s a rough guy, and he does whatever it takes to win. So from that aspect and him beating Danny Garcia, I see him as a tough test.
Q: Were you disappointed you couldn’t get Pacquiao next and sort of settled for Porter?
I was just looking for the next available guy. I wanted a unification fight too. Shawn Porter was the easiest fight to make and the quickest fight to make. So, that’s why I decided with the fight, Shawn Porter.
I wanted the chance to beat Pacquiao. Pacquiao is a bigger name and a bigger fight. So, of course I wanted that fight. But Shawn Porter is the champion too. He has the build. So, I definitely wanted to unify too. I knew that if I wasn’t going to get Pacquiao there was going to be a good chance I was going to fight Shawn Porter.
Q: Do you believe the winner of this fight should be considered the best welterweight in the world?
Definitely. There’s no way around it. The winner is the unified champion. So, I definitely think the winner should be considered the top welterweight in the world, and that makes me even more excited and hungry to win.
Q: This fight you’ve been a lot more vocal that you’re going for a knockout. Usually, you’re’ more reluctant to say that. Just wanted to know if that has to do with his style how your styles will mesh, your overall respect for him as a fighter, or just the mindset you’re bringing to this fight?
It’s just my overall mindset and something I want. I feel like the way he fights and the way he comes forward, I think I can exploit that. But I can’t go in there and just force knock out. I’m going to try to work a bit and break him down.
Spence vs. Porter takes place on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Staples Center. The fight is offered through FOX Sports PBC pay-per-view. Pay-per-view coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET.