The StubHub Center in Carson, California will host a clash of undefeated welterweights as American Shawn Porter (24-0) takes on Britain’s Kell Brook (31-0) for Porter’s IBF Welterweight title this Saturday night (Aug. 16, 2014). The oddsmakers at Several Bookmakers have Porter installed as the favorite, paying (-280) with Brook returning (+220). This match has a lot of the elements that make boxing great. Two young, undefeated fighters in the crowded welterweight division. Throw in a bit of good old fashioned nationalism, and you have the makings of classic fight. The fact that both men are talented makes for a highly anticipated bout, though neither is a household name yet in a weight class that boasts Floyd Mayweather Jr, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. A win here has the potential to elevate the winner close to the top of the weight class and to be in position to face one of the top names in the division. For Porter,an Akron, Ohio native, this will be the second defense of the IBF Welterweight title he took from Devon Alexander in December of last year. In April, he scored a fourth round TKO stoppage over veteran Paulie Malignaggi, establishing himself as a top up-and-comer at just 26 years old. Brook is also in his prime, just 28 years old, and he too has been staying active with recent wins over Alvaro Robles and veteran Vyacheslav Senchenko. In particular, the win over Senchenko, who retired Ricky Hatton for good, did a lot to elevate Brook in the eyes of the British fighting public, and they could still check in as we approach fight time and drive this line down. For Porter, it is the continuance of his ascension, while for Brook it is his first attempt at a world title. Though mainly due to some soft competition throughout his career, Porter is considered to be further along the learning curve than Brook, and that is what should show on Saturday night.
