WBA Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs) and former IBF champion Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs) went face-to-face Tuesday afternoon in Manhattan as they held a press conference to discuss their highly anticipated Saturday, June 25 showdown on Showtime Championship Boxing on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter could very well be the Fight of the Year,” Lou DiBella explained to the members of the press in attendance. “It’s a fan fight that everybody has anticipated for many years. These are the two most established welterweights in the world battling to see who the successor to Floyd Mayweather’s domination of the division is.”
“Our two teams go way back,” Thurman explained. “This is the most beautiful moment of my professional career and I’m about to compete with somebody I grew up with. I’m happy for my success and I’m happy for Shawn’s success. We come from the same boat. When you’re a young kid in the gym training and then you’re here today, that takes a special kind of person. Shawn and I are both that kind of person.”
Porter was excited at the prospect of fighting this person that he has seen grow up inside the boxing ring.
“Keith Thurman is bringing out the competitiveness in me to a level I’ve always wanted. It’s a level I expect. I have a guy next to me who is challenging me more than ever. Me and Keith Thurman are going to put on a show. Everything you talked about, you’re going to get it.”
Thurman sold the fight hard and made it sound like something you do not want to miss.
“Get your tickets. Get your seats. Get your popcorn. Whatever you need to do. This is going to be a fight you don’t want to miss. This is going to be a knockout you don’t want to miss.” On that note, Keith turned towards Shawn and told him, “I love you Shawn, but I’m doing my best to put you to sleep.”
The event has become the fastest-selling boxing event ever in the history of the Barclays Center with the biggest presale to date, so if you plan on seeing this live, it is recommended that you jump on them as soon as you can.
Thurman vs. Porter will air live on June 25 on CBS starting at 9 PM ET.
Check out more videos from the event in the playlist below: