Shawn Porter has offered his prediction for a fantasy super-lightweight matchup between Shakur Stevenson and Manny Pacquiao, believing that one man would emerge triumphant in dominant fashion.
Stevenson successfully completed his first assignment at 140lbs last month, dethroning Teofimo Lopez to claim the WBO title with a one-sided unanimous decision victory.
But despite his mightily impressive performance, the 28-year-old has admitted that his most natural weight is 135lbs, where his best win came against William Zepeda in July.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, produced arguably his most ferocious display at super-lightweight, when he scored a second-round stoppage victory over Ricky Hatton in 2009.
Back then, the Filipino was coming off an eighth-round finish over Oscar De La Hoya, shortly after picking up world titles at super-featherweight and lightweight.
He would then go on to become an eight-division world champion, claiming notable victories over the likes of Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito at 147lbs and 154lbs, respectively.
But despite having had just one outing at 140lbs, many believe that this was where Pacquiao’s speed, strength and power were most effective.
His tremendous engine, in particular, is why former world champion Porter believes that this version of ‘Pac Man’ would give Stevenson all he can handle.
In fact, the Hall of Famer has opined on his PorterWay Podcast that, effectively, the slick southpaw would not stand a chance against Pacquiao.
“I just think that’s a Pacquiao fight all the way. His engine was different; the entire car was just different, especially at 140[lbs]. He was literally in his prime.
“Nobody could keep up with that engine; nobody was ready for it.”
Despite being a four-division world champion, it would appear Stevenson is yet to prove that he can be spoken about in the same breath as pound-for-pound legends such as Pacquiao.
