The highly anticipated showdown between Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter for the WBC welterweight title is upon us after months of trash talking and posturing. Finally, two of the brightest stars in boxing will exchange punches in the center of the ring on Saturday, Sept. 8, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Sporting News staff has made its official picks for who will leave New York as the new WBC welterweight champion.
MORE: Danny Garcia vs. Shawn Porter predictions: Boxers, experts pick a winner
Mark Ortega (0-0)
Shawn Porter SD12 Danny Garcia
I think Porter has that Marvin Hagler chip-on-his-shoulder going into this fight. He knows if he doesn't win this one, another opportunity this big will be very hard to come by. I think he's going to put his head in Garcia's chest all night, negating much of Garcia's ability as a counter puncher. Garcia will certainly have his moments but this feels like Porter's night.
Mark Lelinwalla (0-0)
Danny Garcia SD12 Shawn Porter
Porter will get inside and stay in Garcia's face over the course of 12 rounds, but something tells me that "Swift" will land the devastating punch needed to drop "Showtime" and power his victory.
Steven Muehlhausen (0-0)
Shawn Porter TKO 8 Danny Garcia
You have to look at this fight on how each guy looked against Keith Thurman and what they did in their next fights. Both guys pushed Thurman to the limit in their respective fights. Since then, Porter looked impressive in running through Andre Berto and putting in a workmanlike performance with Adrian Granados while Garcia struggled at times with Brandon Rios before finishing him off in the latter half of the fight.
Porter is a man on a mission and will be trying to pressure Garcia from the outset. The activity and power is going to be too much Garcia, as it was in the Thurman fight until the latter took his foot off the pedal to let Garcia back in the fight. Porter won't make the same mistake Thurman did.
Bradley Cullen (0-0)
Danny Garcia SD12 Shawn Porter
I feel this will be a close fight, Garcia to start strong winning the opening rounds then the fight to even out with the final two rounds down to who wants it more. Garcia to edge it and will win via Split decision
Chris Walker (0-0)
Shawn Porter UD12 Danny Garcia
In Danny Garcia, there’s a fighter who is guilty of performing to the level of his opponents. On several occasions, he’s faced a nervous wait when waiting for the official verdict, but for a long time, he always got the result he desired. That luck ran out last March against Keith Thurman, but he has rebounded with a win since and deserves to start this fight as betting favorite due to the names on his slate.
Against Shawn Porter, I’m not sure Garcia can fight the twelve rounds at the pace the Ohioan consistently sets so unless his power, especially from his left hook, puts a dent in Porter early, I think this fight is an absolute certainty to go the distance. If that’s the case then the industry of the onrushing Porter should be enough to take a close decision.
Andreas Hale (0-0)
Shawn Porter UD12 Danny Garcia
There’s a reason that it took the WBC title being on the line for Garcia to commit to a fight with Porter. And that reason is that Porter presents the worst kind of opponent for Garcia. A man with an almost infinite gas tank and a physical style who will stay in Garcia’s chest for 12 rounds.
Since beating Lucas Matthysse, Garcia has looked good, but not great against the opposition. He’s a fighter who often gives rounds away because he looks for the perfect counter. He won’t be afforded that luxury against Porter and will have to fight in order to see his hand raised in victory. Judging from his past several fights, that level of dog isn’t in Danny Garcia and he’ll struggle with the pressure that Porter will put on for 36 minutes. He may have his moments, but Porter is a much better tactician than people give him credit for and will leave Brooklyn as the new WBC champion.
The Sporting News staff has given the edge to Shawn Porter by a 4-2 margin. One staffer has predicted a (T)KO for Porter while the other three see it being a unanimous decision for "Showtime." Two staffers selected Danny Garcia and both have him winning by split decision.
