Saturday, April 22nd 2017
Andre Berto vs. Shawn Porter
Yet another fight of the year contender is upon us. Andre Berto and Shawn Porter face off this weekend in Brooklyn for a welterweight title elimination bout. The two have been friendly for years and respectful during the promotion of the event. However, make no mistake about it, this will be a dog fight.
After losing his first bout to Victor Ortiz in 2011, then Robert Guerrero in 2012 and Jesus Soto Karass in 2013, many counted Berto, the former WBC welterweight champion out. Then he stunned with a beautiful sixth round knockout of Josesito Lopez in 2015, winning the WBA welterweight title.
It put him in the running for the Floyd Mayweather-opponent sweepstakes, and Berto fought him to a respectable unanimous decision loss. But the thorn in his side was his first loss to Victor Ortiz, whom he needed to defeat, for not only the fans re-approval, but for his legacys sake. Last year, he did so in a four rounds, elevating his name again and setting up this fight against the always dangerous and ready Showtime Shawn Porter.
When Porter faces Berto on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, he will be trying to recapture a dream. Back in 2013, when Porter won the IBF welterweight title from Devon Alexander via unanimous decision, he never thought he would lose it.
He defended it successfully against Paulie Malignaggi, handing him a vicious fourth round TKO. However, Britains Kell Brook came and won a controversial majority decision, taking Porters belt back with him over the pond.
Since then, after big wins over Erick Bone and Adrien Broner, Porter lost an epic and also controversial bout against Keith Thurman. This fight with Berto has championship implications, and Porter is thirsty for another shot at the gold.
Catch all the welterweight action live on Showtime at 9:30pm EST / 6:30pm EST
UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov
UFC veteran Cub Swanson has been on a tear as of late, racking up three unanimous decision wins in a row. His last fight against Doo Ho Choi at UFC 206 earned him yet another fight of the night honor, of which he has six, along with a fight of the year for 2016.
The Palms Springs native, who occasionally trains with boxing star Tim Bradley, has been chasing a title shot since he entered the UFC in 2011 after compiling a 3-2 record in the now defunct World Extreme Cagefighting. Swanson will be facing Artem Lobov in a hopeful fourth win, which would get him closer to facing current reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
Catch all the action live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee live on FS1 at 10:00pm EST / 7:00pm PST
