Terence Crawford vs. Shawn Porter fight: Five biggest storylines to watch in the welterweight title showdown

Two of the biggest stars of the welterweight division will compete for the WBO title on Saturday in a rare meeting between elite fighters from opposite sides of the promotional and network divide.  

Terence Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) will attempt to make the fifth defense of his title in arguably the first dangerous test he has faced 147 pounds when he takes on former two-time champion Shawn Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) inside the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.  

Given the platform and stakes of this weekend’s pay-per-view event, there are no shortage of storylines entering this matchup. Let’s take a closer look.  

1. Finally, boxing did right by Crawford  

It may have taken four years since the time Crawford became the first undisputed champion of the four-belt era at 140 pounds before moving up to welterweight, but he finally has an elite foe — one still in his prime — to stack up his impressive skills against. The fact that Crawford is now 34 makes it almost criminal we have been forced to wait this long as “Bud” has lingered in welterweight exile on the outside looking in of the political and network divide. We may not do this often in this routinely unsavory sport, but credit is due to the WBO for ordering the fight after naming Porter the mandatory opponent. Although Crawford has regularly appeared in the top five of just about every pound-for-pound list, it has been difficult to properly rate him due to the smorgasbord of faded names and not-quite-ready for prime time players he has fought against at welterweight up to this point after having his way with the elite at both 135 and 140 pounds.  

2. Which version of Porter has the best shot at giving Crawford trouble? 

That will be the question trainer Kenny Porter will be forced to answer as the father/son duo prepare for a plan of attack against the sublime Crawford. Porter has become the chameleon of the division. Long known…