Former Welterweight Champion Wants A Shot At Manny Pacquiao: 'We Never Disappoint'

Former two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter is still hopeful about facing Manny Pacquiao in the future. The 32-year-old is set to fight a relatively unfamiliar foe on Saturday, but he has remained vocal on his plans beyond his schedule as he discussed a potential bout against the Filipino legend.

Porter has no doubt that he would defeat Pacquaio in a fight he believes would be a sure treat for the fans. But while his confidence is high, Porter knows that taking his wish into the actual ring encounter would lie on the interest from the Filipino’s camp.

“That’s on Manny and his team,” Porter told Fight Hype. “He’s earned the right to do what he wants to do.”

A former sparring partner of the Pacman himself, Porter has had behind the scenes access on how an eight-division world champion is made. And while Pacquiao could be way past his old self, Porter still believes they hold supremacy in terms of the most thrilling fighters in their weight class.

“There’s a lot of history there with myself and Manny Pacquiao,” added Porter. “If you look at us as fighters, in the welterweight division, we are the most exciting. You know what’s going to happen when Shawn Porter steps into the ring and Manny Pacquiao. We never disappoint.

“I’m confident that I would beat him in a fight. We’ve seen in the past where a great fighter comes along and beats a fighter that was great. That’s what would happen.”

Porter’s assignment on the weekend is Sebastian Formella – an undefeated German fighter who will be making his U.S. debut. Although unscathed in 22 fights, Formella is seen by most boxing analysts as an easy punching target for Porter, who is desperate to step back into title contention.

Porter, however, insisted that he is taking the bout seriously, vowing to give his A-game against a fighter who he said is just as important as any fighter he had been tasked to take on in the past.

“My job is to prepare to the best of my ability and fight the guy they tell me is going to be standing across from in the ring,” Porter said, via Yahoo Sports. “I worked very hard to get ready for this. This is a big fight for him, but it’s a big fight for me, too. The most important fight for any fighter is the next one up. I understand that. I am not looking ahead in the least.”

Porter, who has not held a championship belt for 11 months now, will try to pull off a convincing performance on Saturday at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles as the clear-cut favorite to win, which would improve his professional record that currently stands at 30 wins, three losses, a draw and 17 victories via knockout.