This content is protected , WBA Welterweight World Champion Spence W 12: It's going to be a good fight, a close fight, but I think Spence will win. It's not gonna be one-sided fight, it's gonna be a competitive fight. The fans will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience in this fight. Deontay Wilder, WBC Heavyweight World Champion Spence UD 12: Errol Spence and Shawn Porter is a clash of styles that makes for an exciting, high-profile unification fight. Errol's trying to be ruler of the division with a statement win, so I expect him to come out and perform. Shawn's going to come for the full 12 rounds, no matter what. Errol's never fought anyone like that, which makes this so intriguing. But I see Errol as being the best in the division, hands down, and I'm picking him by unanimous decision. I don't see him knocking Shawn out. Andy Ruiz Jr., Unified Heavyweight World Champion Porter SD 12: I've trained-practically grown up-with Shawn Porter, who has a difficult style. Errol Spence is a great fighter and Shawn's the underdog, but I was the underdog against Anthony Joshua and we all know what happened there. Shawn's probably gonna have to be rough in there and stay on the inside, but I expect him to do it and win a decision. Gary Russell Jr., WBC Featherweight World Champion Porter SD 12: This is a tossup. If Shawn stays in Errol's chest and remains in an aggressive manner, there's a great chance that he takes this fight. If Errol's allowed to box and dictate the pace, then Errol has the best opportunity to win. If I have to pick, I'm going with Shawn Porter simply because I've known Shawn longer and our great relationship going back to the amateurs, not because anyone's skill set is better than the other. Thomas Hearns, Hall of Famer Spence MD 12: Errol Spence and Shawn Porter are both excellent fighters, but I think Spence has the better skills and he's undefeated, so I'm leaning toward him. Porter can bring it, but Spence is the smarter, more accurate puncher. I see Spence landing more combinations and beating Porter by a majority decision. Abner Mares, former three-division champion Porter SD 12: A high percentage of the boxing community is going to pick Errol Spence to beat Shawn Porter, if not by knockout. But keep in mind that Shawn has faced better fighters. In Shawn's unique, awkward style, I believe he's a better fighter than Spence, who has that relaxed, fundamental approach that looks beautiful, don't get me wrong. I don't think Spence has faced anyone with this relentless, in-your-face style which doesn't allow you to sit back and think. Porter won't let Spence get comfortable in there. Shawn's always got a plan A, B, C and D, so I'm going for the underdog, Porter, to win a close, upset split-decision. Mikey Garcia, former four-division champion Spence W 12: I don't believe Errol Spence will win by a knockout. I believe that it goes 12 rounds, but I do have Errol Spence beating Shawn Porter. Keith Thurman, former unified world welterweight champion Spence W 12 / TKO: This is two world champion warriors going at it in a great fight. They have a common opponent in Kell Brook, who beat Shawn Porter and was knocked out by Errol Spence. That's why my pick is Spence. Styles make fights, and Shawn's aggression could be difficult for Spence to handle since Spence has never faced an opponent like Shawn. Shawn's gonna come hungry but Brook and I handled that pressure, and I believe that Spence - being a tall southpaw with power and a great jab - will be able to deal with it as well. Spence has the power to stop Shawn, and if he does, I believe that would happen in the later rounds, like he did Brook. Angel Garcia, trainer of two-division world champion Danny Garcia Porter W 12: Shawn Porter's gonna come out applying pressure like he always does, and I've never seen Errol Spence deal with pressure like he'll get in this one. Spence is used to backing people up and knocking 'em out. But I've never seen him have to fight while backing up when he's been hit with flush punches. If this fight goes the distance, I see Porter winning. Julian Williams, Unified Super Welterweight World Champion Spence W 12: Errol Spence-Shawn Porter is a 60-40 fight in Spence's favor. Porter has trouble with guys who are physically strong and can hold him off, like Kell Brook, Danny Garcia and Yordenis Ugas. Spence is that type of guy who can hold off Porter and stand his ground in the center of the ring. Spence won't run right through Porter, but I favor Spence in a really tight, entertaining, very competitive decision. Spence is the cleaner puncher, so Porter's rough tactics won't work on him. I see Spence winning a clear-cut decision, 8-to-4, or, 7-to-5 in rounds. Yordenis Ugas, top welterweight contender Porter W 12: It is a great confrontation of two world champions. I think Errol Spence is a favorite because of the great fighter he has proven to be. But Shawn Porter is a tough fighter with a great resume and will fight hard until the final bell. I have no favorite in this 50-50 fight, but I lean toward Porter to win. Evander Holyfield, Hall of Famer Spence MD 12: First of all, both fighters are good and each will be great one day. Styles make the difference, and it will be a great battle if both fighters perform like they usually do. But I've got Spence by majority decision. Robert Guerrero, former three-time world champion Porter SD 12: This is a very difficult fight to call, but I've gotta go with Shawn Porter to beat Errol Spence. With Spence being as tall as he is, Porter can't try to box like he did against Yordenis Ugas or Spence will pick him apart. Porter's got that relentless pressure and stays busy with combination punching. One thing about Spence is he's never had anybody in front of him like that. Erickson Lubin, super welterweight contender Spence UD 12: Errol Spence is younger, stronger, fresher, bigger and punches harder than Shawn Porter, and all of that is gonna play a role in Spence winning by a unanimous decision. Porter will have some success if he can make it a rough, dirty fight, but I still see Spence winning comfortably on the cards on September 28. Tony Harrison, WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Spence W 12: Errol Spence will have it tough making adjustments in the beginning but pull away after round six. Shawn Porter has gotta start strong and try to establish himself as dominant from round one, but he will be worn down. If it is stopped, that will come from Porters' father in the corner. Jose Benavidez Sr., trainer of former world super middleweight champion David Benavidez Porter SD 12: Shawn Porter has the style, talent and aggression to make Errol Spence uncomfortable in the fight. It's a 50-50 fight, but I believe that's what he's gonna do from the first round on, winning a decision. I'm going with Porter. Paulie Malignaggi, former two-division world champion Spence Late-TKO: Shawn Porter relies on a physical presence but Errol Spence is a very big welterweight and that can nullify Porters' physicality. Spence's body punching is key. Robert Easter Jr., former lightweight champion Spence W 12: I've been rolling with Errol Spence for a long time and I see no reason to stop now. I've got Spence beating Shawn Porter. Ruben Guerrero, trainer of former two-division world champion Robert Guerrero Porter W 12: Errol Spence and Shawn Porter want this really badly, and it's gonna be a close fight. I believe the one who is more aggressive wins the fight, so I'm picking Porter. Sergey Lipinets, former world super lightweight champion Spence W 12: Both guys are A-plus fighters, but given the fact that Shawn struggled with Yordenis Ugas, it's obvious that he has a problem with tall and rangy fighters. Being a southpaw, Errol Spence will give Porter all he can handle and will most likely win. Robert Garcia, trainer of former four-division world champion Mikey Garcia Spence W 12: Shawn Porter is a very tough fighter who will come out pressuring as he always does, but I've really gotta go with Errol Spence by decision. Austin Trout, former super welterweight world champion Porter SD 12: Errol Spence's style plays right into Shawn Porter's, and I don't think it's going to be as easy for Spence as some people are thinking. We know Spence is very strong and has power, but Shawn got through the power of Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia, so if he's doing everything he's supposed to, training-wise, I see Shawn eking out a decision. Caleb Truax, former super middleweight world champion Spence UD 12: Errol Spence against Shawn Porter is a rough, tough fight for the first five or six rounds, but I think Spence's talent and skill level will be too much for Porter. Spence may not dominate or knock Porter out, but I do see him controlling the fight and winning a clear unanimous decision for the victory. Sergio Mora, former super welterweight world champion Porter W 12: I really like this fight. Errol Spence's pure power boxing versus Shawn Porter's raw aggression and grit. Any fight with Porter will be punishing. This is type of fight that can get out of control for the cleaner boxer. Expect Porter to maul Spence, not letting him get comfortable with cleaner punches. If Spence can't control the tempo and hurt Porter coming in, I'm picking Porter for the upset decision. The referee will play a big role in the outcome of this one. Andre Berto, former two-time welterweight world champion Spence W 12: I see Errol Spence beating Shawn Porter by decision. Shawn can't try to box with Errol, who is a long, rangy southpaw. Shawn needs to go in there and do what he knows how to do, but I don't think it will be enough
Porter just sparred 168 pound Benavidez. Porter will eat Spence's best punch & tell him to eat **** & die.If Spence somehow wins because this is a huge leap in class, it will be by Decision. Very few are picking stoppage, only Paulie picked Spence stoppage because he's shilling for Showtime & he accoused Porter of PED's
You know Paulie talks rubbish when everybody else is saying it'll be a decision win. I like Porter in this matchup, but I think he's deteriorated a bit and therefore I think he loses a close decision to Spence. And that's coming from someone who isn't too enthusiastic about Spence, I don't rate him as highly as others.
Nice. Thanks for that list. The one I agree with the most is Williams. Spence by UD in a competitive fight. 7-5 or 8-4.
I am also. I would not be surprised if Spence stops Porter by TKO in the mid rounds. He matches his speed,, more in power, less in experience, but the intangibles favor Spence more. I don't know why but I don't see the fight going 12. Spence does not want Porter on him for 12 rounds and I don't think he would have it.
Here’s how the experts see it: TOM GRAY: SPENCE UD It’s all but impossible for Porter to outbox Spence, so he’ll be bringing the heat. However, “Showtime” knows he can’t attack with abandon, otherwise he opens himself up to Spence’s counter punching weaponry. Porter will therefore try to make his raids energy-filled and hard to read, but I think he gets caught on the way in. “The Truth” might not be Thomas Hearns, but he hits hard enough to do damage and that will turn Porter’s game plan upside down. After he’s been hit a few times, I expect Porter to stay outside more than he should, and Spence will cruise to a wide decision victory. RON BORGES: SPENCE UD Although Porter is strong and will have his moments if he can force his way inside, in the end Errol Spence has too much of everything. Spence wins a unanimous decision. MICHAEL WOODS: SPENCE UD Not going bravely against the flow here. Shawn Porter will be the bulldog, press, get in the face of Errol Spence. But unless he’s landing… I don’t wanna say a LUCKY punch, but unless he lands something so cleverly timed and placed as to discombobulate the Texan, then he gets outboxed by someone a full notch better than him. Spence is a Top 5 fighter, overall, against a man who is Top 5 in his stacked division. Folks thinking along my lines will have more so a different question, not who wins, but how? Can Spence be the first to stop Porter? I say no… Porter’s pride and chin make it so this one goes the distance. Spence wins 8-3-1 or so. MARTY MULCAHEY: SPENCE UD My hope is Shawn Porter forces Errol Spence into a higher gear than Mikey Garcia did, but I don’t see Porter being able to trap or muscle Spence into mistakes. Porter is very good at everything but lacks that one elite weapon to propel him over the top against a top 10 pound-for-pound boxer. I enjoy Porter’s volume-based bullying style, and he will set a good pace in the first four rounds, winning a couple. However, Spence’s timing as well as his height and reach advantages will negate Porter, just as they did against Garcia. Spence wins every round from the fifth on, using his jab and feet to keep Porter at a distance, walking into punches, for a comfortable unanimous decision win. Fans will bemoan that Spence was not pushed again, building demand for a showdown with Terence Crawford even more. ANSON WAINWRIGHT: SPENCE UD Excellent match up, really looking forward to this one. Porter is the kind of fighter who always brings it and will never give an opponent a moments rest. I expect him to work, but I think the greater technician is Spence. Spence has to be on point because Porter will be there trying to rough him up. From looking at the odds, the bookies aren’t giving any value, making Spence a heavy favorite. However, this is exactly the type of fight Spence needs to further ascend his star. I expect Spence’s class to tell and win him a unanimous decision. Something like 116-112 or 117-111. GARETH A. DAVIES: SPENCE UD Spence needs the gamest of opponents and Porter is exactly that, but the lefty will outwit the power and ring wisdom of the Las Vegas based fighter, and hand him his third career defeat. Unanimous points decision, by precision, for 29-year-old Spence, whom I would like to see more active than he is. Victory to Spence, 116-112 all round. NORM FRAUENHEIM: SPENCE UD It’s classic, both the fight and how to pick it. To wit: In a match of two good fighters, pick the bigger guy. That means Spence, who looks as if he’ll be moving up the scale to junior middleweight and middleweight before long. He’s a very big welterweight and he’ll employ all of his advantages in virtually every dimension to beat Porter. Porter might score as he steps inside, but he might walk straight into Spence’s notable power when he does. Porter’s ring skill and over all IQ figures to keep him upright. But Spence will score, repeatedly, in what could be punishing 12 rounds. MIKE ALTAMURA (MANAGER): SPENCE UD I see a bruising, physical encounter with Porter managing to smother Spence’s distance and offsetting his rhythm in spurts early. However, I think Spence finds his range in the mid-rounds, and scores regularly enough with the jab to control tighter rounds. I see a 117-111, 116-112 score line. BRAD GOODMAN: (MATCHMAKER, TOP RANK): SPENCE I like Spence by a late stoppage or decision. Porter is so game and will make a fight of it, but I think the overall skill of Spence wins him the fight. Great fight that I’m really looking forward to seeing. DUKE MCKENZIE (FORMER THREE-WEIGHT WORLD TITLEHOLDER/TV ANALYST): SPENCE UD This is an A grade match up. Can Porter make the slick punching Spence fight his fight? The shorter more aggressive Porter surely only has one chance at winning this fight – on the inside. He cannot outbox Spence. Is Porter a better fighter than (Mikey) Garcia, who took Spence the distance? Absolutely, yes. This is a step up for the gifted Spence and as we all know, class is permanent, form is temporary. I expect Spence to raise his game and show his adoring fans yet another side of his brilliance. He should not be drawn into a dog fight but tame the beast. Keep Porter on a long leash and win this fight via a split decision. I don’t see any controversy in this fight as Spence’s sheer class will overcome Porter’s will and resilience. SERGE (EAST SIDE BOXING LEGEND): SPENCE UD OR LATE TKO Porter needed a gift from the judges to get by C - level Ugas last time out. JOLENE MIZZONE (MATCHMAKER, MAIN EVENTS): SPENCE TKO 10 I think Spence is going to beat Porter down to the body and will eventually stop him. KATHY DUVA (PROMOTER, MAIN EVENTS): SPENCE UD I’ve got to go with Spence, he is simply the better fighter. I imagine that Porter will do his best to test Spence, but Spence’s accuracy will win the day. Porter may be able to go the distance, but Spence wins a comfortable decision.
RICKY HATTON (FORMER TWO-DIVISION WORLD TITLEHOLDER/ TRAINER): SPENCE TKO Spence versus Porter is a good fight. I think Spence is strong at the weight, he’s a skillful southpaw, who’d be wrong for anyone, so I’m going Spence by late stoppage. PAULIE MALIGNAGGI (FORMER TWO-DIVISION WORLD TITLEHOLDER/ TV ANALYST, SHOWTIME): SPENCE TKO My pick is Spence by late stoppage. Porter is intense and he will bring it, but I’m not sure he can match Spence in boxing ability or power. On top of that, Porter has shown some vulnerability to body punching and Spence is a wicked body puncher. RUDY HERNANDEZ (TRAINER): SPENCE UD Spence will try to fight on the outside while Porter will pressure and try to make it an inside fight. Once Spence figures Porter out, the fight will shift in his favor. Porter will try his very best but will be neutralized by Spence’s better boxing. I don’t see it being a great fight because of styles. Spence wins a unanimous decision in a competitive fight. BARRY JONES (FORMER WORLD CHAMPION/COMMENTATOR): SPENCE UD Porter is massively underrated. His style might not seem scientific but it’s highly effective. When you’re in against someone like Porter, discipline and composure are paramount and Spence has both traits in spades. It might be a relatively close affair in the first half, but that southpaw jab and the occasional solid left hand will, I feel, start to effect Porter’s rhythm and with that make him easier to hit. That’s where I see Spence taking over and becoming dominant. Porter will still have his moments in the later stages, but he will be chasing the fight and might even have to get off the floor to finish. I’m picking Spence on points. CORNELIUS BOZA EDWARDS (FORMER WORLD CHAMPION/TRAINER): SPENCE PTS I pick Errol. He surprised me when he chose to outbox Mikey Garcia when I had picked him to stop him. Well, the same as he surprised me by outboxing Mikey, I think he will do the same when the tough Shawn Porter keeps coming like a tank. It will turn out to be a dog fight, then Errol, being smart, will stick to his boxing ability and win on points. CAMILLE ESTEPHAN (PROMOTER, EYE OF THE TIGER): SPENCE UD I believe it to be an excellent fight for Spence where he will shine and establish himself as top three pound-for-pound and a real threat to the number one. I believe it will be a unanimous victory without a shadow of a doubt. NISSE SAUERLAND (PROMOTER, SAUERLAND EVENT): SPENCE UD Spence too slick and skilled a boxer for Porter, who will run out of ideas. Spence wide points victory. JOHN SCULLY (FIGHTER/TRAINER): PORTER PTS I think Shawn is going to bring everything he’s got and he’s going to make Spence very uncomfortable. If Spence cannot keep Shawn at a safe distance and pick his shots from the outside, he will lose the decision. I can go either way on an eventual winner. It all depends on Shawn’s ability to get Spence to fight his fight. If I was willing to bet a little bit of money, I would put some on Shawn to pull the upset. TONY TOLJ (MANAGER): SPENCE UD I believe it will be a competitive one-sided fight, if that makes sense. I see many flaws in Porter. Having seen the class and the rise of Spence, I see nothing but a Spence win by shutout and him adding another belt to his collection. FINAL TALLY 21-1 in favor of Spence
Scully is always the sceptic, not a true believer! Spence UD is the most logical outcome indeed. But you never know.
I don't see this fight being too competitive once Spence times Porter's rush. Brook timed him with lead right hands all night (yes, it was a close fight but Spence is better than Brook and Porter past prime now) and Spence will find that body at will once he adjusts to a style he hasn't faced before. There are very few levels to Porter's game and Spence has the IQ to work out how to exploit the pressure. Spence to win UD or late TKO. Too big. Too strong. Too smart. Too prime....
