Premier Boxing Champions 2015: TV Schedule for June 20 Main Card

For old-school boxing fans, nothing has been sweeter in 2015 than the return of boxing to network television. Like any power broker, Al Haymon draws his share of criticism. But his bold move to bring the Premier Boxing Champions series to free television is something everyone should applaud. 

This weekend, the PBC will feature its most compelling matchup to date, in the form of young lions Adrien Broner vs. Shawn Porter. The undercard bout, featuring 2012 Olympian Errol Spence Jr. against hard-hitting Roberto Garcia, is a nice fight as well. Spence is one of the sport's rising stars, and Garcia will be a tough step up for him in competition.

Here is the information on the card:

Where:	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
When:	June 20th, 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 PT
TV Info:	NBC

Two Young Stars in a Crossroads Fight

Porter is 27 and Broner just 25. Both are former world champions on the comeback trail. The winner of this fight will take a major step forward, and the loser will drop back in line. 

Both fighters are Ohio natives, but the similarities pretty much end there. Broner is a brash personality, well-known for his chest-thumping bravado. He's a flashy fighter who relies on speed. 

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Porter has plenty of self-confidence, but he tends to let his boxing talent speak for itself. He's a physical powerhouse who mauls opponents. 

But both men are accomplished professionals, with the potential for bigger things in the future.

Broner was a three-division world champion by the age of 23. Like most championships in the age of alphabet-soup shenanigans, those titles need qualification. He won the vacant super featherweight belt over the obscure Vicente Martin Rodriguez in the Argentine fighter's only trip to the United States.

To become a champion at welterweight, Broner beat Paulie Malignaggi, the lightest-hitting welterweight titlist of recent years. And it was a contested split decision.

Still, Broner's three belts in three divisions by age 23 is an accomplishment, however it's dissected. And Broner captured the WBC belt by demolishing a legitimate champion, Antonio DeMarco, in just eight rounds.

In his only defense of his welterweight title, Broner was hammered by Marcos Maidana. Maidana dropped him twice and rather than stay in the ring for the customary post-fight interview, Broner fled to the dressing ring in tears, while the fans in the Alamodome reigned boos and garbage down upon him.

Since losing to Maidana, Broner has dropped back down to junior welterweight and won three straight fights against second-tier opponents. Porter should definitely be his toughest fight since facing Maidana.

Porter was a highly decorated amateur who broke through as a professional in December 2013, when he captured the IBF welterweight title from Devon Alexander via bruising unanimous decision. In his first defense of the belt, he walked through Malignaggi, stopping him in just four rounds.

Last August, Porter dropped his title to England's Kell Brook. In March, Porter knocked out virtually unknown Erick Bone of Ecuador. This fight with Broner is his first true test since the loss to Brook.

Another Catchweight

Like far too many fights these days, this one is being waged at a catchweight. Instead of fighting at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, it will happen at 144.

This has to be seen as a huge advantage for Broner, who looked undersized and underpowered at full welterweight. Porter competed at middleweight as an amateur and is enormous as a welterweight.

So those extra three pounds could be a problem for him come fight night. He'll have the time to rehydrate, but the stress of draining an extra 48 ounces from his body could have lingering effects on his energy levels and leg strength.

It's impossible to know if the lower weight limit will be a factor until the fight starts. Porter has been vocal that the extra cut is not going to bother him, even tweeting earlier this week:

Still, that's how any fighter is going to talk the week heading into a fight. I spoke to former light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson when he was cutting down to 168 pounds to fight Andre Ward, and he said similar things. On fight night, he looked sluggish and weak, and when I spoke to him again later, he admitted the cut had actually been very hard. 

Porter is a professional and agreed to the 144-pound limit, so it's not accurate to say that the catchweight "isn't fair." Still, it will be a shame if a showdown between two young stars ends up being tipped by the weight cut.