I like Porter but wow. Flailing in the clinch? Jumping around for no reason? HOLDING YOUR ARMS IN THE AIR FOR 2 ROUNDS? He needs to settle down. If he's going to fight an attrition style he needs more than great "conditioning", he needs to fight efficiently. Good show by Kell Brook, would love to see him in with Maidana.
Porter was desperate to work on the inside, Kell wouldn't let him. Porter expended a lot of energy trying to fight through the holding as fighting on the inside was central to his gameplan. On Maidana, he'd be well down the list of potential opponents for Brook behind the likes of Khan, Pacquiao, Marquez, Mayweather etc.
Porter is 5'5. He has NO CHOICE but to get inside to be effective. Against Alexander and Paulie, he was able to do it and be effective, because Alexander and Paulie had no firepower for Porter to respect. Brook had the firepower to keep him honest, and hurt him several times. That's what it came down to.
He actually has a longer reach than Brook believe it or not, he's just not that skilled on the outside.
By round 3 I remember saying to myself, “How can any man maintain this pace for 12 rounds“ Well he lasted about 6 maximum. I said before that I didn't see anything great from porter, but tonight was highligted more than ever. He needs a new trainer. You can't just expect to steam roll every fighter. Once that didn't work, he had no other options.
And he was as crude, or possibly more crude than maidana tonight. I always knew Kel have the ability to win, if he had a plan to handle porters style.
