Two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter believes the punch resistance of one super-lightweight has diminished after he suffered a knockout defeat to the undefeated power-puncher, Gervonta Davis.
‘Tank’ is on a three-fight knockout streak and has recorded twenty-seven stoppages in his twenty-nine contests to date, including knocking out the likes of Leo Santa Cruz, Rolando Romero and Ryan Garcia in statement victories.
Garcia bounced back from that defeat to ‘Tank’ recently with a stoppage win of his own against Oscar Duarte and proceeded to call-out Romero for a shot at the WBA super-lightweight title during the aftermath.
In an interview with Fight Hype, Porter gave his prediction for a proposed clash between two of Davis’ former opponents and shared his belief that Romero’s punch resistance appears to have declined, based off of his performance against Ismael Barroso earlier this year.
“I think Rolly has shown that he can’t really take a punch, his punch resistance is very low after that ‘Tank’ Davis fight.
“I don’t even remember the gentleman’s name that he was in the ring with after that [Ismael Barroso], but that guy had him light on his feet a couple of times. I would bet on Ryan and his camp, that left-hook showed up last night.
‘Rolly’ claims that Davis’ punch power is overrated and that Barroso hits ‘one million times harder’ than the WBA Regular lightweight Champion, although his chin may be truly tested if he opts to face Garcia, who has also established himself as a hard-hitter in his own right.
Before Romero-Garcia can take place, the champion is expected to defend his title against the winner of Ohara Davies-Ismael Barroso after the WBA ordered that the champion takes on his mandatory challenger by March 2024 in order to keep hold of his belt.