Shawn Porter: Spence is not the right fight right now

Errol Spence will not be getting a welterweight unification fight with Terence Crawford anytime soon, and it appears the same fate has fallen on the prospects of landing a fight with Shawn Porter as well.

Porter (29-2-1, 17 KO's), 31, who won the WBC 147-pound world title with a unanimous decision victory over former titlist Danny Garcia in September, did not delve into the specifics of why a fight with Spence fell through, but it was very clear from his body language that he was hinting at the usual promotional politics.

"No fault to blame, no fingers to be pointed. It's just that this fight is not the right fight right now, but it's gonna happen," Porter said.

Porter may not end up fighting Spence until 2020 -- if ever -- because another important fight could be looming with the impending return of WBA champion Keith Thurman, given that he defeats Yordenis Ugas on March 9 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"For me [my next fight will be] possibly myself and Keith Thurman first -- I think -- I am not sure," Porter added. "Obviously he's got his fight with Mikey [former four-division world champion Mikey Garcia], I've got my fight with Ugas, Keith's got his fight with Josesito Lopez. A lot's got to play out, and then we'll figure what's going on."

Garcia, who has held world titles at 126, 130, 135, and 140 pounds, is moving up to 147-pounds to go for a world title in a fifth division against Spence in a meeting between two of boxing's elite pound-for-pound fighters. The bout takes place March 16 in Spences' backyard, AT&T Stadium, in Dallas, Texas.

A lot of fans are not giving Garcia much of a chance to defeat Spence because of their size difference, but Porter seemed optimistic that the fight will be close.

"He [Mikey] said it himself, 'He's figured something out.' So, we'll see. I'm gonna be there, and I'm gonna wait to see what happens. This is a great fight."