Get a preview and prediction here as Andre Berto and Shawn Porter go head to head on Showtime this Saturday.
This Saturday, Showtime presents a Welterweight title eliminator when Andre Berto (31-4; 24 KO) takes on Shawn Porter (26-2-1; 16 KO). This is a 147 pound Welterweight fight – Porter is ranked #3 in the division by Ring Magazine, with Berto outside the top 10. Showtime Championship Boxing Berto vs. Porter airs this Saturday, April 22 on Showtime with a fight time of 9:30 p.m. ET. Also included on the broadcast is Jermell Charlo vs. Charles Hatley.
How do these two stack up?
Berto: 33 years old | 5’6” | 68.5″ reach | orthodox stance
Porter: 29 years old | 5’7″ | 69.5″ reach | orthodox stance
What have these two done recently?
Berto: W – Victor Ortiz (KO) | L – Floyd Mayweather (UD) | W – Josesito Lopez (TKO)
Porter: L – Keith Thurman (UD) | W – Adrien Broner (UD) | W – Erick Bone (KO)
How did these two get here?
Andre Berto was once heralded as a future world champion and a sort of young phenom of the sport. Then, in 2011, he was upset by Victor Ortiz in a terrific fight, and he’s never regained his momentum since. Since that Ortiz fight, he’s pretty consistently lost when stepping up in competition, though he does have a solid 2015 victory over Josesito Lopez. At age 33 and over 12 years into his pro career, it’s clear that Berto has hit his ceiling (and is no longer even capable of achieving that previous ceiling). But he remains an entertaining fighter, and he remains a name, so for now, he still has the ability to earn marquee match-ups. But for how much longer?
Shawn Porter’s career is, in many ways, quite parallel to that of Berto. A few years ago, he was rising up and being heralded as a future world champion. And in the past few years, it seems he too has hit his ceiling through losses to Kell Brook and Keith Thurman. It’s too early to say Porter is past his best – he’s still a legitimate top talent in the division. But it seems fair now to say that he is not going to rise to the level where he consistently puts together wins against true top level opponents. That said, he’s a very driven fighter, one whose determination shows no signs of wavering.
What can fans expect?
If you want to, it’s easy to be a bit critical of this fight. Yes, Berto is past his best and unlikely to be a serious challenge here. And yes, Showtime is over-hyping it – it’s not the top level marquee fight they are presenting it as. At the same time, it’s a fun match-up. Berto in particular has revealed himself to be a terrific action fighter over the years, as his fights with Ortiz, Guerrero, and more attest. And Porter, while overall a more technical and calculating fighter, also likes to push the pace and bring action to his fights. I’m thinking these two match up quite well, and should put on a very fun fight. But it’s definitely a pairing that favors Porter, who has the defense to avoid Berto’s heavy hands and the aggressive offense to stifle Berto’s game and overwhelm him. The question is – do things get pushed into a shoot-out that ends with a KO, or is it a more war of attrition type fight a la Berto vs. Guerrero? I suspect the latter.
Prediction: Porter, UD
Who should watch?
Fans looking for a fun action fight. Also those who want to see how Porter bounces back from his loss to Thurman.