Vinny’s Views: Danny Garcia Vs Shawn Porter: The Stats, The Facts & The Fight Prediction Is In!

[AdSense-A]

By Vinny “Glory Day’s” Lucci

Sometimes a fight is so natural the only thing needed is a ring. The combatants are both salty, brined and the visceral progression of violence towards emancipation of each other’s shadow brings overtures of vows how they would fight for free. This prelude to skipping all promotional bullspit and a couple of year’s maturation need only two ex-champions who are junk yard dog hungry to get the belt back and all the respect and tidings that go with it. If you are wondering just how serious these gents can be, ponder the fact this bout was signed just 48 days from first bell! Make those junk yard dogs Hyenas and circle the date on your boxing agenda.

The Event:

Danny “Swift” Garcia verses Shawn “Showtime” Porter in a 12 round redemption bout for Keith Thurman’s vacated WBC title. TGB Promotions and DiBella Entertainment in association with DSG Promotions present this card with Barclay’s Brooklyn, New York hosting. Event to be televised on Showtime September 8 and guarantees to be a crowd pleasing blend of styles in welterweight mayhem.

The Stats:

Danny Garcia stands 5’8 ½” with a 68” reach. Danny is 30 years old and fights out of orthodox stance. He boasts a “once only” blemish of 34-1, 20 KO’s ledger. He hails from Philadelphia Pennsylvania and of Puerto Rican heritage trained by his highly outspoken father Angel. His 11 year career already warrants future hall of fame consideration with likely hood of first round induction. At Jr. Welterweight he ran roughshod through Kendall Holt, Erik Morales, Zab Judah, Amir Kahn, Lucas Matthysse, Mauricio Herrera, Lamont Peterson and Paulie Malignaggi. Danny won the WBC belt and defended it five times before abdicating and moving north to welterweight where he won WBC vacated title against Roberto Guerrero by UD, and losing the title a year later in unification with WBA champion Keith Thurman by SD.

Shawn Porter stands 5’6” with a 69 ½” wingspan. The American born fighter hailed form Akron Ohio and now trains out of Las Vegas. Fighting from orthodox stance his impressive record stands at 28-2-1, 17 KO’s. Having turned pro a decade ago at super middleweight and wisely worked his way back down to more sensibly sized welters. In 2013 he won IBF title by UD from Devon Alexander and made one successful defense before losing it to Kell Brook by MD. Ringside Report had Brook by close but UD. In 2016 he lost a unanimous decision to Keith Thurman in failed attempt to reclaim title.

Last Fight:

Garcia stopped rugged Brandon Rios by TKO 9, in a scheduled 12 rounder on 2-17-2018 at Mandalay Bay, Paradise Nevada. Rios was considered washed up but entertained viewers with a spirited fight and gave Danny a workout. In the ninth Garcia counted over a lazy jab with a booming right hand that appeared to separate the vertebra in Rios neck as it wickedly unhinged over his shoulder as he free fell to canvass. He beat the count at 9 but ref waived off the contest.

Porter took on rugged and highly inspired Adrian Granados on 11-4-2017 winning a spirited 12 round UD at Barclay’s Brooklyn which has become a second home to the welterweight division. Adrian stepped up and fought on another level making Shawn do likewise.

Common Opponents:

Shawn took on Paulie Malignaggi in first defense of his title and stopped him by fourth round TKO at the DC Armory in Washington in March of 2014. One year later Garcia stopped Malignaggi by TKO 9, of a scheduled 12 rounder at Barclay’s Brooklyn N.Y.
Both fighters lost title fight decisions in tandem to Keith Thurman. Porter lost a UD in June of 2016 at Barclay’s Center with Garcia losing by SD at same venue in May 2017 in a unification match.

Styles:

Danny is a complete boxer who wields good power in either hand. At 140 pounds he had truly developed marvelous skills. Since his rise to 147 he is still solid but the bigger opponents in division take his power better and he seems to have to pace himself carrying the extra weight. Garcia uses entire ring and can be a devil inside the pocket. His best attributes are patience and always keeping his feet planted for extraordinary balance.

Shawn is a real trip inside the ropes. He shows flashes of brilliance when bending at the waist ducking punches at belt level, and then unloading both hands to body and hand in rapid succession reminiscent of Henry Armstrong. I will give him more credit here than most. Reason being is his bull rushes into pocket where his forehead needs a red glove attached when starting most combinations. His aggression backed by determination can get downright ugly in some fights as clash of heads is inevitable. Both he and Danny have terrific stamina and chins to match. I have always felt that Shawn’s dad Kenny who trains him has taken him as far as he can go and would love to see another trainer step in and help sharpen up his technique thereby beautifying his defense and clarifying his aggressive spurts. With Danny listed on some boxing sites at 5’9” Porter’s head will be in a precarious position all night long.

It must be noted that judges have been fair in accessing both boxers and how effective they actually are in winning rounds. It’s Ringside Report’s opinion that neither has been robbed in decision losses.

What to look for fight night: Styles makes fights and this one is a humdinger as both ex-champions will have to concentrate on not falling into fighting his opponent’s fight more than simply trying to impose their will. Garcia is a flat footed boxer who will play matador to the “Tasmanianesque” whirlwind before him. Both warriors must calibrate adjustments while maintaining their own game plan.

The Vinny Factor:

Danny Garcia’s skills are so superior to Shawn Porter he may have forgotten more than Porter will ever learn. Just about every facet of the game Danny is more proficient and technically sound. At 140 pounds he would be favored to perform a precise appendectomy and gut his aggressor. At 147 lbs., Danny’s frame just doesn’t transcend the extra weight like so many junior welterweights before him easily did even though he is rock solid. Garcia is stuck in a twilight zone where every round becomes the “Vinny Factor,” and he is just not able to dominate with gents who will enter ring at middleweight the day after weigh in.

Here’s something you’ll read first on Ringside Report. The referee for this bout may actually “dictate” its outcome depending on team Garcia launching a prefight protest of Shawn’s pension for leading with his head. Should Kenny Bayless get the assignment, he could conceivably keep Shawn at bay in the clinches from holding, mugging and taking points away for head butts. On the opposite side of the coin someone like Tony Weeks might allow the action to flow allowing fans to enjoy what they paid for playing right into the Porter camps hands.

Fight significance:

“A” The public needs this fight. With the emergence of Terence Crawford swatting Jeff Horn; Manny Pacquiao’s easy dismissal of Lucas Matthysse, the preconceived notion that Errol Spence, JR. is “the man” in division along with Keith Thurman’s abdicating his title, there is a tremendous need to start clarifying who is truly king by process of elimination. A clear cut victory here crowns a champion sending one fighter to the back of the line.

Odds:

As we went to press Vegas has yet to set the line. Ringside Report: (Pick-em”)

Prediction:

Wicked fight, Shawn Porter by decision.

Stay tuned…

[si-contact-form form=’2′]