Shawn Porter: Boxing legacy defined by adoration, fearlessness, and doing things your way

LAS VEGAS – Shawn Porter stunned the boxing world when he announced his retirement after goal against Terence Crawford.

“I am about to retire. I’m prepared to announce my retirement tonight, win, lose or draw,” Porter said in his post-match press conference following his heartbreaking loss. But he revealed that the outcome was inevitable. “Even if it was a draw, they told us the date we would have to do it again. I won’t do that again. I am announcing my retirement right now. ”

Will it be sustained as most boxers have a hard time getting away from the sport they love. But, sometimes, brutal pugilistic sports don’t love them back. And instead of waiting for his carriage to turn into a pumpkin, the 34-year-old believes he’s given more than enough of the sport and now is the time to dedicate all that energy to his family. .

THAN: We must respect the name of Terence Crawford

During a boxing career that spans over 13 years and will end in 36 fights, Porter has amassed a resume he is certainly proud of.

Unlike most fighters of this day and age, “Showtime” was never interested in politics or disinterested in high-risk situations. Instead, he embraced it. He really fights everyone the weight class has to put up and leaves it all in the ring. There was never a fight he didn’t participate in. Even against Crawford, he kept the fight close before his father decided to give up.

Fighters say they want a resume like Porter but they rarely act. Two-time world champion, Porter looked for the toughest opponents in their respective primes. Kell Brook, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, Errol Spence Jr, Yordenis Ugas and Terence Crawford all stood across from Porter. All are forced to fight in Porter’s fighting style that sees them deal with relentless pressure and aggression. He wins some, he loses some. But he fought them all.

And now it’s time to go. For what is left for him to do? The idea that he left it all in the ring was carried out and fighting aimlessly could get him injured. As a family man with a good amount of change in his bank account, Porter has no interest in being anyone’s springboard.

“I’ve been devoted to this sport a lot,” he said. “From practice to competition to more practice. And with that being said, after fighting everyone at the top, what else can you do? I will not be the gatekeeper.

“You look at four losses and think, ‘He could be the gatekeeper.’ That’s not the life I want to live. I never wanted to live the life of a boxer who fought in his forties… We want to end this when we’re 30. And I’m 34, and now is the time.”

He’s right. Boxers often don’t know when to leave until it’s too late. And unlike other sports, too late often leads to irreparable damage. In Porter’s case, he would leave with all of his abilities intact. Sure, he could chase rematches with Spence, Crawford and Thurman but the path to getting that back is out of his control. Fans want to see him continue to give his best in the ring, but we’re not the ones to spend time away from family with grueling training camps, and we’re not the ones to suffer. punch in the face.

“One of the people I admire in the sport is (retired Hall of Famer) Andre Ward. I really admire him and all that he has had to do with the sport,” said Porter. “And we were in the back room preparing to fight (fight) Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder and someone go to him with all the talk about Ward being able to fight Canelo (Alvarez) and they say, ‘Come on champion, we know you have one more left in you. ‘

“And he said, ‘Why can’t I just have one more left of me?’ And the guy was confused. Meanwhile, I’m like he said it all right there. Why can’t I just have one more in me and save it? ”

Porter is the content to save it.

How he will be remembered as one of the sport’s most beloved figures whose cheerful personality and infectious smile off the court are no match for his scowl and competitive nature fierceness that he manifests within. Truly one of the best in boxing, there aren’t any troubling stories about him. Instead, he is known as a man who loves his father, wife, and two children. It’s almost impossible not to like, Porter has a future in the field of commentary as he’s cut his teeth on his desk for the past few years. Ask his opponents, all respect him. No one doesn’t like him. He didn’t do anything that could receive such criticism.

It is said that the nice boys finish in the end but that is not the case for Shawn Porter at all.

And when it comes to fighting, there’s never been a fight he didn’t like. If you want to throw hands with Porter, he’ll greet you with clenched fists back in no time. Always entertaining and never looking for an easy way out, the former IBF and WBC welterweight champion has had an extraordinary career that has left his peers and fans in awe.

In the sport of boxing, it’s better to leave your own conditions alone. Like the way he fights, Shawn Porter does things his own way and the world has to adjust.