SHAWN PORTER vs RUSSELL JORDAN

Exciting prospect Shawn Porter headlines in a Cleveland homecoming on Friday Night Fights when he meets southpaw Russell Jordan for the vacant WBO NABO junior middle title.

Porter looked superb in his last appearance, on ShoBox, when he wrecked Jamar Patterson in four rounds in a meeting of unbeaten boxers.

Jordan, from Buffalo, NY, is a big underdog but I think he could give Porter an awkward tussle for several rounds. Not only is Jordan a southpaw but he stands 6ft 2ins — seven inches taller than Porter. Jordan can punch a bit, too — he stopped the capable Larry Mosley in six rounds in an outstanding performance. Agent Rick Glaser tells me that Jordan had two months to prepare for the fight. “He’s never had that long to get ready before,” Glaser said over the phone from Buffalo. “This isn’t going to be easy for Porter. It will be a good fight for as long as it lasts.”

I think the main interest in the fight is how Porter looks and how long the bout lasts. Jordan has been stopped five times and just doesn’t look very robust, but he did manage to get into the eighth round with world-class Luis Collazo in his last fight. That was 17 months ago, though, and Jordan is returning to face a quick, strong, hard-hitting young fighter.

Porter was a national Golden Gloves champion at middleweight and his speed and strength has been overwhelming his professional opponents. Sparring with Manny Pacquiao at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles has been an important part of Porter’s ring education, and I think that he will soon be closing the distance to begin chopping down his elongated opponent. Jordan can be dangerous, but when he starts throwing punches he tends to leave himself open, and I think that Porter will have an opportunity to land right hands and look good. I’m expecting a stoppage win for Porter, around about the fifth round.