The DAZN Boxing Show discussed whether Shawn Porter is getting ahead of himself after his pre-fight press conference.
Porter will fight WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford on Saturday in Las Vegas. Ak and Barak wondered if that would give the challenger a psychological advantage.
Ak began, explaining: “He's saying that he's already winning before the fight has even started. Now the first press conference, I would say, is 50-50. Maybe because Shawn came in with the vest and no shirt on, showing that he was in shape.
“I guess some can say maybe they'll sway his way if you were judging a press conference, but Bud is the type of guy who he is in and outside the ring. What do you expect from Bud Crawford? He's not going to do any backflips and curse you out. It's just who he is. So if that's important to him, Barak, I mean, I think it needs to be more focused on what's gonna happen in the ring.”
Barak thought slightly differently, suggesting Porter might have gained a boost from his appearance.
“Shawn is scoring rounds already,” he began. “It is important with some fights and with some fighters, and that's when the psychological games begin in the press conference.
“Usually the weigh-in and things like that, guys like Mike Tyson want to intimidate his opponents and stuff like that. So that's a good thing. But when it comes to Terence Crawford, I don't think hardly anything works.
“You know, I remember Hank Lundy got him upset talking about his wife, and he paid for it in the ring. But that's the only time I've probably seen Bud like that any other time. Bud doesn't care. But it's just good to see Shawn Porter motivated like that before. You would never get this out of Shawn Porter. I believe it started with maybe Keith Thurman when Keith Thurman said he dresses better. All of a sudden, Shawn lost his mind.”