By

Jake Donovan

It

was barely a year ago when the jury was still out on Shawn Porter. The unbeaten

welterweight hardly made an impression in struggling to a draw with faded

former lightweight titlist Julio Diaz. It was only fitting that he loaded up

the bandwagon beginning with a more convincing performance in their rematch last

September.

From

there it’s been smooth sailing for Porter, who has since claimed a title and

emerged as a top welterweight, quite a statement considering the loaded

division.

Tonight,

his skills are put to the test and his star on the rise as he defends against

England’s Kell Brook. The bout headlines a Showtime-televised tripleheader,

airing live from StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Porter

(24-0-1, 15KOs) turned heads with a competitive but clear points win over Devon

Alexander last December to claim an alphabet title. An even greater statement

was made in his most recent performance, dominating former two-division champ

Paul Malignaggi en route to a 4th round stoppage this past April.

The

win over Alexander was a career-changing moment for Porter, though one originally

intended for tonight’s challenger. Brook (32-0, 22KOs) was due to face

then-champ Alexander last year, but saw the bout postponed three times and

ultimately canceled altogether due to injuries suffered by both.

Brook

has since nibbled around the edges in waiting out his first title opportunity.

He gets his chance tonight, in a bout that also marks his stateside debut.

Will

Porter continue his impressive run and push towards the top of the queue in

boxing’s most lucrative division? Or will Brook rise to the occasion in his

biggest fight to date?

Read

on to find out how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes tonight's welterweight

action will play out. 

BOXINGSCENE.COM

STAFF PREDICTIONS: SHAWN PORTER vs. KELL BROOK

Matt Bevan (Porter

UD or late TKO):

“John MacDonald (Porter mid-rounds TKO):

It's a fight where I wouldn't be surprised by any outcome. Porter has his

limitations but there are still too many unanswered questions surrounding

Brook. Porter will put him under pressure he's never faced before and I'm not

sure Brook can fight at that pace for the duration.”

Shaun Brown (Porter

TKO10):

“Even though I believe that Brook will be

a tougher challenge for Porter than Malignaggi and Alexander were, I worry

about the opposition he has faced up until now. I think that's what will

separate them on the night. Brook's best win is against Vyacheslav Senchenko

which doesn't fill me with confidence. I think it will be an entertaining and

competitive fight but late on the champion will come through and his style will

wear down the challenger.”

Ryan Burton (Porter

TKO8):

“I think Porter's much better level of

competition will be evident in this fight. Porter will hurt Brook early and

stop him in the middle rounds.”

Jake Donovan (Porter

UD):

“This fight will begin competitive, but

Shawn Porter will eventually pull away. The question will become whether Kell

Brook goes all out to win — in which case, I like Porter’s chances of a mid- to

late-rounds stoppage — or whether he fights to survive. I’m going with the

latter and Porter taking a clear decision.”

Ernest Gabion (Porter

TKO8):

“Porter is a bulldozer and is now

starting to utilize the traits that make him so effective. His aggression and

stamina now play major factors in how he handles his foes whereas he tried to

stay too much on the outside and box.  He

should be able to suffocate Brook and may be behind on the cards when it is

stopped.”

James Harte (Porter

UD):

“This really is a

50/50 fight with so many aspects and intangibles that you can weigh up time and

time again and still not come up with a conclusive prediction. I'm going

with my initial feeling for this, and that is that after 12 close and

at times hard rounds, Porter will defend his title. I think Brook struggles to

make welterweight and if Porter makes him fight at a pace he is not happy

with, it will begin to show. Yet at the same time, the way Porter jumps in

blindly at times it's easy to see him walking onto a Brook rocket and getting

taken out spectacularly.”

Keith Idec (Porter

TKO8):

“The diverse, improved Shawn Porter

eventually will prove to be too strong for Kell Brook, a solid boxer who has

been matched smartly on his way to a 32-0 record.”

Cliff Rold (Porter

Dec.):

“I like Brook's chances but can't shake

the feeling that, on the road, he'll be hard pressed to get the decision no

matter what happens in the ring.  That

aside, Porter seems to have hit his stride as a pressing brawler/boxer, and

also can't shake the image of Brook struggling with Carson Jones.”

Reynaldo Sanchez (Brook

late TKO):

“Brook has knocked out 7 of his last 10

opponents while Porter has managed just four KO in ten fights. The power is

with Brook and the speed and skill with Porter. Brook could use his height, but

his short arms will force him to look the in fight. If Brook is able to

withstand the blows of Porter and throw body shots and hurt Porter, he could

knock out Shawn.”

Luis Sandoval (Porter

UD):

“You have to love a battle of undefeated fighters but I

believe it will be Porter who will keep his record unblemished. Porter has

shown his aggressive style and fast hands are trouble and I believe they will

overwhelm the visiting Brook. In a fun fight, I expect Shawn to win a clear decision.”

Alexey Sukachev (Brook

UD):

“Porter looked great

against capable technicians Devon Alexander and Paul Malignaggi, and perception

can be that he is better equipped to fight stylists rather than rugged sluggers

like Julio Diaz and Alfonso Gomez. However, Brook is a bit different. He is in

great shape (unlike Alexander) and he is not past his prime (like Malignaggi).

He will start slowly but will outsmart Porter in a very close fight to get a

close call on points.”

Anson Wainwright (Porter

Dec.):

“A very interesting match-up of two

unbeaten fighters in what on paper looks to be a 50-50 match up. I believe the

fight taking place in America and in the California heat outdoors at the StubHub

Center aids Porter, who will use his greater strength and infighting skills to

win a competitive but deserved decision.”

Danny Winterbottom

(Porter UD): For Brook, this

fight is the culmination of a 10 year, 32-fight journey towards his childhood

dream but has his ring education so far prepared him for a champion who seems

to be at the peak of his powers as a boxer-brawler? Brook’s level of opposition

simply doesn’t stack up against Porter’s recent big wins but the Ingle fighter

possesses the firepower in either fist that Devon Alexander and certainly Paulie

Malignaggi didn’t meaning the Sheffield man isn’t without a shot at unseating

the champion and may flourish under pressure. However Brook’s life and death

first fight with Carson Jones makes me believe that unless he can land a fight

ending shot within the first half of the contest, Porter will rally from behind

and begin to take over, his superior infighting taking its toll on Brook.

Jake Donovan is the

Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing

Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter:

@JakeNDaBox