Shawn Porter believes he should be considered one of the best, if not the best, at 147lbs.
Porter has a chance to back that claim up on November 20 when he takes on WBO champion Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
It is an opportunity to put a 2019 defeat to Errol Spence - the current IBF and WBC champion - to bed. Spence had been due to face Manny Pacquiao but needed surgery on an eye problem, and doubts persist after he was badly injured in a car crash.
Crawford is currently undefeated but Porter pointed out to Zenger News that he was always ready to fight the top contenders.
“The best thing about me is I’m constantly fighting and beating the top guys in the division,” Porter said.
“My mindset is to stay healthy, continue getting into the ring with the best guys in the world and putting on the best performances. Right now, in terms of the caliber of the opponent and timing, Terence Crawford is the pinnacle. It doesn’t get any better than that.
“At one point in time it was Errol Spence, and, obviously, we know how our fight played out. But due to [Spence’s] injuries sustained in the [car] accident and his eye [injury], that decreases the intensity of what could happen in a rematch between us.
“If you’re talking about everyone who is considered to be the No. 1 guy at welterweight, there are things I’ve displayed consistently that translate into me being that No. 1 guy.
“When it comes to resiliency and staying power, there is no one in the division better than I am. My whole thing has always been that ‘until I’m done with this, I’m going to get the most out of it.’ My saying is to ‘Ride until the wheels fall off.’ I don’t feel as if my wheels are anywhere close to falling off.”