LAS VEGAS — Shawn Porter's been under the bright lights during fight week on multiple occasions.
There was the welterweight unification bout with Errol Spence Jr. in September. Then, there was Adrien Broner, Keith Thurman, Kell Brook, Paulie Malignaggi, Danny Garcia and Yordenis Ugas.
Porter took care of business against Broner, Malignaggi, Garcia and Ugas. But he came up short in razor-thin decisions against Spence, Thurman and Brook.
Porter's (31-3, 17 KOs) name is on top of the marquee once again as he battles WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford from the Michelob Ultra Arena. It's another big fight against another top-notch foe. The narrative coming in has been centered around Crawford finally landing a megafight. Yet, in some respects, Porter's been the afterthought.
For all the things he's accomplished in his career, like being a two-time welterweight champion, Porter still feels there's a chip on his shoulder. Crawford's the name he needs on his resume because he came up short in his three defeats against guys who have been viewed at one time or another on top of the 147-pound division.
"People always talk about how great Dan Marino (former NFL star) was," Porter told DAZN after Wednesday's press conference. "But he never won a Super Bowl. I can’t have you saying that about me.
"I can’t have you saying I was in the ring against the best, but… F— that but (Porter makes a throat slash gesture).
Not many are giving Porter much of a chance to win. He's nearly a 7-1 underdog, according to BetMGM. But don't tell Porter he won't win.
"Showtime" feels he's going to be the one to hand the first defeat of his career and secure a legacy-defining victory to become a three-time welterweight champion.
"Probably the biggest key to his fight is breaking his speed and rhythm," Porter said on the way to beat Crawford.
"And after that, as dad said at the press conference, ‘As long as Shawn is ready, he can take over the world’. You are all in for a treat. You have two fighters that have the same mindset, about the same abilities, so you are in for a great night of boxing.
"Terence Crawford hasn’t been in the ring with anyone like me. But he turned it all the way up during his training camp for me. So the best is getting inside the ring with the best. No doubt about that."