When will testing for Porter-Spence start?
For quite some time now, Shawn “Showtime” Porter (30-2-1, 17 KO’s) and Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr (25-0, 21 KO’s) have continuously dangled a potential fourth quarter showdown before the boxing public.
Each man, on numerous occasions, has relayed to a plethora of media outlets that this guaranteed barnburner bout was on the way shortly.
Nevertheless, an official announcement, date and venue have all remained vexingly elusive.
This is why it’s appropriate that the Truth posted a cryptic tweet regarding the drug testing for the fight.
“We can take it now or 8 weeks out don’t matter.”
Errol Spence Jr – IBF Welterweight Champion
In the short blurb, Spence acknowledges that there will be testing and that this testing has yet to begin. This begs the question “when will the testing initiate?”.
In the appealing welterweight unification, Porter is putting up his WBC title. Spence, on the other hand, is throwing his IBF strap in the pot.
As it’s a part of their stipulations, any challenger for a WBC title must adhere to VADA drug testing. This is why the fact that there is strict drug testing is no stupendous surprise. The realization that Spence comes off as so fuzzy as to when it will initiate is, though.
Standards On Testing
Since his thrilling May 11 victory over Jarret “Swift” Hurd, Julian “J-Rock” Williams has transformed into a very visible advocate of testing.
Shortly after usurping the IBO, IBF and WBA titles, Williams publicly stated that anyone, and everyone, who wants to challenge for his belts would have to submit to at least three months of VADA testing.
No matter how elusive Teams Spence and Porter have remained regarding an official fight announcement, both have maintained it’ll be a September showdown.
This would mean the two skilled men would have to start testing today in order to get in the three months that J-Rock is demanding. Yet, going by his own words, Spence is good with as little as two months.
However, firsts things come first. Let’s just get an official fight announcement on the books! Then we can worry ourselves over the particulars of the drug testing protocols.
By: Bakari Simpson
