Welterweight titlist Shawn Porter will make his second defense when he faces mandatory challenger Kell Brook on Aug. 16, Golden Boy Promotions announced on Saturday.
The fight will headline a Showtime-televised tripleheader at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, that will also include defenses by lightweight titlist Omar Figueroa and super middleweight titleholder Sakio Bika.
Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), 26, of Akron, Ohio, knocked out former titleholder Paulie Malignaggi in the fourth round of a dominant performance on April 19, and the mandatory with Brook is due.
I think I have the edge on Brook with everything. I'm faster than he is, stronger than he is, quicker than he is, more athletic, and if you put all that in one fight, I'm going to be the winner, Porter said.
Brook (32-0, 22 KOs), 28, of England, was originally supposed to challenge then-titlist Devon Alexander in 2013, but the fight was called off multiple times due to injuries to both fighters, and then Porter dethroned Alexander. Now Brook is getting his long-awaited opportunity.
I'm confident I'm going to win, Brook said. I'm planning on bringing Porter's belt to the United Kingdom with me. I am fitter than ever and ready to go. I have been in training for a long time, so Aug. 16 -- it's the perfect date for me.
In the co-feature, Figueroa (23-0-1, 17 KOs), 24, of Weslaco, Texas, will make his second defense when he faces mandatory challenger Daniel Estrada (32-2-1, 24 KOs), 29, of Mexico, who will be fighting in the United States for the first time.
Figueroa's first defense was on April 26, a split decision against Jerry Belmontes. Estrada is riding a nine-fight winning streak since 2010.
Bika (32-5-3, 21 KOs), 35, of Australia will be making his second title defense in a rematch with Anthony Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KOs), 29, of Flint, Michigan. In December 2013, they fought to a split draw in a hard-hitting action fight.
Bika, who was knocked down by Dirrell in the fifth round, strongly felt he won the fight, winding up with a draw only because he was docked a point for a low blow in the 11th round.
I feel I was fighting the referee as well,'' Bika said. The body shot was a legitimate shot. Not below the belt line. I got him on the belt line, Dirrell just wanted to milk it. I was the busier fighter and now I just want to fight the best ahead of me.
Said Dirrell: This fight has been on my mind since I heard the decision from our first fight. I'm just real excited to get it. I know I can beat Bika, I know I have what it takes and that's what it is. It just takes hard work and dedication to stay focused on the game plan.
I could have done better the first fight. I don't feel like he was hitting me with more shots than I was hitting him with, but I still think I won it. This time it will be convincing.
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