Porter challenges Thurman for his WBA title at 147 pounds after losing his own belt to Kell Brook back in August 2014. The clash was delayed for six months whilst Thurman recovered from a car accident and Porter believes the delay only served to make the fight more intriguing.
“It is amazing to be a part of something great like this. I’ve always considered myself to be a very good fighter and a very good athlete, but I’ve always wanted something like this and to have it is very humbling,” said Porter, who then reacted to Thurman promising a knockout when they met.
“I wasn’t surprised that Keith said he would knock me out. He has to pump himself up and be confident. When he looked at me I think he was trying to convince me that he was being real and I was looking at him to find out if he was convinced. He thinks he’s going to knock me out, I say he’s not. I’m going to do everything it takes to beat him and make it look easy.
“This is forming to be a big fight, one of those fights that we’ve looked forward to since we were kids.
“This is my second time fighting at Barclays Center. I’m 1-0 with a championship so now I’m looking for another one. I’ve been to some of the other fights at Barclays too and it is really an electric atmosphere. People are coming out to see something great and that’s what I’m going to give them.”
The winner of this summer’s encounter is in line to face WBC champion Danny Garcia in a massive unification at the back end of 2016, giving Thurman and Porter an even bigger incentive to come out on top.
