Barclays to host Its ‘biggest fight yet’

Long-time Friends, Porter and Thurman, Set to Duke it Out Downtown

May 26, 2016 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter, shown here in front of the oculus outside Downtown’s Barclays Center, will put their friendship aside for what could be the biggest headliner yet at Brooklyn’s home for boxing on June 25. Photo by Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

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One of the most-anticipated bouts of 2016 will take place at Downtown’s Barclays Center on June 25, when Keith “One-Shot” Thurman defends his welterweight title against Shawn Porter in a showdown of former sparring partners who will have to put their longtime friendship on hold for what many anticipate will be 12 scintillating rounds.

“Our two teams go way back,” revealed Thurman during last month’s New York press junket to promote the headline bout, which will be nationally televised on CBS.

“This is the most beautiful moment of my professional career and I’m about to compete with somebody I grew up with,” added Thurman, who spent most of his amateur days working side-by-side with Porter, a former world champion himself.

Though there have been an unusual amount of niceties exchanged between the two combatants, both are fully aware that their future earning potentials, and legacies in the sport, will rely heavily on the outcome of next month’s fight.

“Keith Thurman is bringing out the competitiveness in me to a level I’ve always wanted,” noted Porter. “It’s a level I expect. I have a guy next to me who is challenging me more than ever … Everything you talked about, you’re going to get it.”

“June 25, my friend is about to become my enemy,” Thurman emphasized. “I’m going to treat him like any other enemy. 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. I love you, Shawn, but I’m doing my best to put you to sleep.”

The nation was supposed to get this fight back in March within the much cozier confines of the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.

But Thurman injured his neck in a traffic accident, postponing the initial date, and ultimately changing the venue, which turned into good fortune for Barclays CEO Brett Yormark and the powers that be at Brooklyn’s home for boxing.

“I’m a huge boxing fan and this is one of those nights that you circle on the calendar. You need to be there,” Yormark insisted. “We’re off to the best pre-sale and on sale since we opened Barclays Center. We have a bit of a history already and this will be the biggest one yet.”

Thurman (26-0 with one no contest and 22 knockouts) pummeled Brooklyn’s-own Luis Collazo in seven rounds last July in Tampa, while Porter (26-1-1 with 16 KOs) has been chomping at the bit to get back in the squared circle since earning a unanimous decision victory over Adrien Broner in Las Vegas on June 20, 2015.

“I made you wait. But it’s worth it,” Thurman said of the three-month delay. “This is a tremendous fight. Arguably the best matchup of the year. We’re going to work our butts off to make it the Fight of the Year.”

“This isn’t just the biggest fight of my career,” he added. “But it’s the most anticipated fight of my career. Sometimes it pays to add some drama to the game. It wasn’t our intention, but I think it worked out.”

Intentional or not, the delay has certainly drummed up interest in what will be CBS’ first major title fight since Muhammad Ali took on Leon Spinks in 1978.

“Barclays Center makes this a big fight,” said Thurman, who beat Jan Zaveck via unanimous decision here back in 2013 during his only previous appearance on the corners of Atlantic and Flatbush avenues. “We get to promote here in New York City. This is a fight town.”

“This is going to be a memorable night,” added Porter, who also boasts a win in his previous Barclays outing, when he took the welterweight crown from Shawn Alexander here three years ago. “It’s going to be a record-breaking night at Barclays Center and we’re going to put on a show.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $42, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.