CENTRAL DEFENDERS
Porter and Ugas both in good form, writes Elliot Worsell
Shawn Porter, Dmitry Bivol and Maurice Hooker put their world titles on the line
Four-and-a-half years after losing his IBF welterweight title in Carson, California, Shawn Porter is a world titlist all over again and defends his new belt, the WBC version, for the first time against
Yordenis Ugas back at Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park (formerly the Stubhub Center) this Saturday (March 9).
Porter first became a champion in 2013, when outpointing southpaw Devon Alexander over 12 rounds, and looked a force to be reckoned with in a fourround mauling of Paulie Malignaggi in his first defence. By August 2014, however, he was a champion no more, having been figured out by Britain’s Kell Brook and shown that brawn is sometimes no match for brains.
Since then, Porter, 29-2-1 (17), has rebuilt and, for the most part, done so admirably. He has registered decision wins over Adrien Broner and Danny Garcia, as well as a ninth-round stoppage of Andre Berto, and only a 2016 defeat to Keith Thurman, a relatively close one on the scorecards, put Porter’s comeback in check and reminded us that the American, for all his hardnosed aggression and fitness, can be outmaneuvered by those with a little lateral movement and spite.
Still, he made no mistake against Garcia last September. Imposing from the off, Porter took away Garcia’s main assets, smothered a lot of his work, and was eventually a handy winner, as well as the new WBC champion, to the tune of a unanimous decision. It was, in the end, a well-deserved victory for the amiable Akron native, someone who has already faced many of the best 147lb fighters in the world and is still just 31 years of age.
His next opponent, Yordenis Ugas, might not be one of the best welterweights in the world but is certainly one of the most in-form. The 32-year-old Miami-based Cuban defector rebounded from a tough 2014, a year in which he lost back-to-back fights, to string together an eight-bout unbeaten run and lands his first shot at a version of the welterweight crown while on the crest of a wave.
Last time out, he comprehensively outscored Argentina’s Cesar Miguel Barrionuevo over 12 rounds, and before that Ugas, 23-3 (11), did something similar to Thomas Dulorme, a tricky Puerto Rican recently seen holding Jessie Vargas to a draw. Composed and technically sound, Ugas, like all Cubans, is accustomed to taming agricultural types with textbook fundamentals and movement. And it’s for this reason he could provide a stern test of Porter’s credentials.
“Ugas is a strong, aggressive fighter who’s responsible with his defense,” said the champion. “It’s going to be up to me to get him to drop his hands, take some risks and then land my shots. It should make for a very entertaining fight and I can’t wait to get back in the ring and do what I do best.”
Ugas, in response, said: “This is a huge opportunity to make my dreams come true. Shawn Porter is a great champion and someone I respect. On March 9, when the bell rings, I’m willing to leave it all on the line. I guarantee you will hear the words, ‘And the new [champion]’.” That remains to be seen, of course, but certainly Ugas, a 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, would appear to possess the tools to at least give the comparatively rough-edged Porter a few problems in his first defence as champion. For Ugas, buoyed by a good run of form, this opportunity could not have come at a better time. The same, however, could also be said for Porter. Now all grown up, “Showtime” is boosted by a seasoning and experience he lacked during his first reign as world champion and seems to have developed into quite the all-rounder. His greater experience at this kind of level, and against Ugas’ style, should see him both retain his title via decision and exorcise the demons of Carson.
THE VERDICT Yet another tough assignment for Porter.