By Ian S Palmer
Former IBF Welterweight Champion Shawn Porter will be taking on fellow American Adrian Granados in a 10-round bout at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York this Saturday, November 4th. The contest for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Title can be seen live in the UK on Sky Sports and American fans can catch it on the Showtime Network. Porter was scheduled to fight Thomas Dulorme in August, but that fight fell through. His last outing was in April when he stopped Andre Berto in the ninth round. Granados was last in the ring back in February when he dropped a close 10-round unanimous decision to Adrien Broner.
The 30-year-old Porter of Akron, Ohio is a former IBF Welterweight Champion, but lost his title via a close majority decision to Kell Brook of England in August of 2014. His other loss was a unanimous decision to WBA Champ Keith Thurman in June of 2016. Porter has a fine record of 27-2-1 with 17 Kos. He’s more of a blue-collar boxer who has a lot of energy to burn, but isn’t known as a big knockout puncher even though he’s scored his fair share of stoppages. His current knockout ratio stands at 57 per cent and he stands 5-feet-7-inches tall with a 69.5-inch wingspan.
Porter turned pro in 2008 and has 183 rounds under his belt since then. His draw was a 10-round affair against Julio Diaz in 2012. Porter’s best victories have been against Berto, Adrien Broner, Diaz in a rematch, Paulie Malignaggi, Devon Alexander, Phil Lo Greco and Alfonso Gomez. Porter seems to have a pretty good chin, but Broner did manage to drop him in the 12th and final round in June of 2015. His key to beating Granados will be to throw a high volume of punches every round and make him back up.
The 28-year-old Granados of Berwyn, Illinois enters the contest with a mark of 18-5-2 with 12 Kos. He has both the height and reach advantage since he’s 5-foot-9 with a wingspan of 74 inches. He also turned pro back in 2008 and has fought 145 rounds since then. Granados isn’t really a powerful puncher as his knockout ratio currently sits at 48 per cent. He was on a five-fight winning streak until running into Broner with his best win being an eighth-round stoppage over Amir Imam in November of 2015
He’s also been beaten by 10-round majority decision by Felix Diaz in November 2014 as well as a 10-round split decision to Brad Solomon in May of 2015. His other two defeats were to Frankie Gomez by an eight-round unanimous decision in August of 2011 and by four-round split decision to Jose Juan Fuentes in November of 2008. Granados’ draws came against former world champion Kermit Cintron over 10 rounds in March of 2013 and an eight-round affair with Lanardo Tyner in 2011.
Prediction…
Granados has an aggressive style which should make this an entertaining contest, especially if he uses his height and reach advantage to put the pressure on Porter. Granados should have his moments, but Porter is one of the best welterweights in the world. As as long as Porter does what he usually does, which is to try and dictate the pace with his aggressive style and try to outwork and out punch Granados, he’ll be the winner.
