Danny Garcia v Shawn Porter
(Photo by Edward Diller/Getty Images)

Welterweights Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter will battle for the vacant WBC title Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

One of the most anticipated fights of 2018 will take place Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as former welterweight champions Danny “Swift” Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs) takes on Shawn “Showtime” Porter (28-2, 1, 17 KOs) for the vacant WBC welterweight title.

The fight will be broadcast on Showtime Championship Boxing at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The title became vacant when the WBC stripped former champion Keith Thurman who was unable to defend the title as he continues to rehab from elbow surgery.

Thurman defeat Garcia for the title back in March of 2017 via split decision, and now the latter is determined to capture the title back.

“I’m excited and motivated to go in there and recapture what’s mine,” said Garcia. “The WBC title belongs to me. Come September 8, I’m going to prove that I’m the best fighter in the world. My loss is behind me and it’s given me a chip on my shoulder to run that extra mile and train even harder. I know that Shawn Porter is not on my level. I’m coming to fight him in the middle of the ring and I’m going to beat him at his game.”

Porter is just as confident that he’ll leave the Barclays Center Saturday night a champion again.

“I’m going to force Danny Garcia to fight me, to be uncomfortable and to do things he’s not used to doing in a fight,” said Porter. “If Danny comes in being defensive and trying to hold, it may last a while. But if he comes and tries to trade with me and prove something to himself, then it will end fast. I think my style will give him problems and not allow him to pace himself. This is going to be an instant classic and I’m going to win and become champion once again.”

This should be an all-action fight. The question is, “Who’s going to win?”

Here are the keys to victory for each fighter:

Keys for Garcia

Keep the fight in the middle of the ring

Neither Garcia nor Porter is known for their boxing ability, but of the two Garcia is a more skilled boxer. Porter, as he usual does, will try to rush in and maul Garcia and force him to the ropes where he can use his strength to his advantage.

Garcia needs to keep the fight in the middle of the ring and use his jab and counter left hook to keep Porter at bay.

Time Porter with your left hook

Garcia’s left hook is one of the best punches in boxing and it paved the way for some of his biggest wins. If he’s going to win this fight, he’ll need to land his left hook often.

Garcia will need to time Porter as Porter is rushing in with his left hook. If he connects with Porter’s chin he might earn the 21st knockout of his career. Garcia should also throw his left hook to Porter’s body to see if that will slow him down in the later rounds.

Keys for Porter

Apply pressure

Porter is the stronger of the two fighters and he’ll need to do what he always does in his fights, applying relentless pressure for all 12 rounds. Porter has been able to wear down opponents the likes of Andre Berto and Paulie Malignaggi.

If Porter can apply pressure and maul Garcia to the ropes for the majority of the fight, he’ll win.

Keep your right hand up

In fighting Garcia, Porter is facing arguably the hardest puncher he’s ever been in the ring with. Normally, when Porter rushes recklessly, he hasn’t suffered any consequences. But if he comes in recklessly Saturday night, Garcia will make him pay.

Porter must keep his right hand up to block Garcia’s left hooks. Porter has never been knocked out in his career, but he was knocked down by a left hook by Adrien Broner. If Broner can knockdown Porter with a left hook, Garcia can knock Porter out with his left hook.

Prediction

This is truly a fight that could go either way as these fighters are evenly matched. But Porter’s aggressiveness and work rate will be enough to pull off a close decision victory. Porter wins by split decision.

Jason's first love was football while growing up in northern New Jersey. For the past three years, he has covered the New York Giants, as well as several boxing events along the East Coast.