Shawn Porter has been more outspoken than Danny Garcia about their showdown at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday night. Porter’s father, Kenny, has talked plenty about it, too. But not nearly as much as Garcia’s dad, Angel.
And now barring an unforeseen chatty weigh-in on Friday, the talking is done. Garcia and Porter had one last round of trading verbal jabs Thursday during the final press conference before their Saturday night fight for the vacant WBC welterweight title.
At the Dream Downtown hotel in New York City, both fighters swung and connected on verbal barbs that should translate to the physical sense Saturday night.
“I just feel like I’m a better fighter, a better all-around fighter,” Garcia started the press conference saying with Porter seated just a few feet to his left. “I just feel like I’m a better fighter and that’s it.”
The Philadelphia native ended his comments with much of the same sentiments: “Come Saturday night, I’m going to get this victory because I’m the better fighter and a true champion.”
Porter voiced how desperately bad he wants this 'W.'
“One way or another, I’m going to win this fight. Whether it’s decision, knockout, I’m ready to do whatever it takes to win this fight," Porter said without flinching. "I told you before, there’s nothing that I could have ever wanted in my entire life — I’m 30-years-old — more than this.”
He also warned to “expect Danny Garcia to have the shortest-ass new chapter of his life Saturday night. The shortest chapter he has ever had.”
The pivotal tilt between Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs) and Porter (28-2-1, 17 KOs) could pave the way for a welterweight title unification bout with none other than Errol Spence Jr. in 2019 — a scenario both 30-year-old boxers would relish to cement in Brooklyn.
“Absolutely … if the money’s right,” Garcia said about defeating Porter to set up a unification bout with Spence. “I want the biggest fights and the biggest money. I’m at the point in my career where this will be my fourth world title. Let the money start talking. I deserve it. I’ve faced everyone in front of me. Right now it’s just all about the moolah, the money.”
Porter said the convincing way he defeats Garcia will make fight fans take a longer look at him when ranking the best welterweights in the Sweet Science game.
“What I do to this man and how it’s done and when I win, you’re going to be wondering whether those guys could beat me,” Porter promised, “whether or not those guys really have what it takes to beat me.”
Garcia and Porter cut the tension during the conference when the former said he’s going to “let it all hang out” during the fight and “let my nuts hang,” to which Porter responded with: “I’m taking those nuts. Hey, any and everything he’s coming with, I’m taking it.”
To that, a stunned Garcia said, “Hey, I’m trying to have more kids, bro.”
Both fighters had a good laugh over that. But there won’t be any laughing Saturday night for what promises to be an in-your-face, rugged fight.
