Shawn Porter sparring with big names to prepare for Spence

With his World Welterweight unification title fight fast approaching, WBC 147 lbs. champion, Shawn Porter, is pulling out all the stops in preparation, including sparring with big name fighters.

Porter, has already been working out with Super Middleweight contender and former champion David Benavidez, including sparring with the much bigger fighter:

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Well, now he also reportedly will get in the ring  for some sparring sessions over the next week or so, with WBO Middleweight Champion, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade.

Boxingscene.com senior writer and columnist, Keith Idec, had the story Monday afternoon, including comments from Porter about his relationship with and how he can benefit from being with Andrade:

“I had spoken to ‘Boo Boo’ back in maybe like May or June, and he told me that he would be there for me,” Porter said about Andrade during the most recent episode of “The PBC Podcast” on premierboxingchampions.com. “Demetrius Andrade, we’ve known each other since we were 16. We have a fantastic relationship. We’re like distant brothers.

“You know, so he knows that I’m against the fight of a lifetime, and he wants to be there to support me. He’s gonna meet us in [Washington, D.C.] over the next two weeks, and he’s gonna spar with me in D.C. and get me ready for this fight. So, we haven’t sparred just yet, but we do have him committed to come and train with me in the next two weeks.”

Andrade last fought in June and won by 12-round decision over Maciej Sulecki to improve to 28-0 with 17 KOs.  There have been discussions about Andrade possibly fighting Canelo Alvarez in the future, but that has yet to enter the “serious talks” stage.

Meanwhile, as for what Porter (30-2-1, 17 KOs) got out of scrapping with the 6-2 Benavidez, who’s on the Spence-Porter undercard fighting Anthony Dirrell for the WBC 168 lbs. Championship? Porter also told Boxingscene,

“You could feel all of the strength and size that guy has,” Porter said of the 6-feet-2 Benavidez, who’s right-handed. “It was interesting trying to push him back, trying to be aggressive against him, also using my feet to get him out of position. You know, a lot of the tactics we expect to use against Errol Spence. I think using them against a guy that big, I think on top of building your confidence, I think it’s just another way to recognize what works and what doesn’t work against another world-championship athlete.”

Benevidez is looking regain the WBC belt that he lost, when he tested positive for cocaine in post-fight drug screening after defeating Ronald Gavril in Las Vegas in a 12 round unanimous decision in September of 2018.

As for Spence, he is favored in the Fox Pay-per-View that will be promoted by PBC,  as they battle for his IBF and Porter’s WBC Titles. It is also believed that if Spence is victorious, he will be fighting WBA champion and certain Hall of Famer- current WBA champ, Manny Pacquiao, early next year in his next fight.