Boxer Shawn Porter Shares Candid Story About Setback With Father

Professional boxer and two-time welterweight world champion Shawn Porter joined the Stonewater Roofing sales staff earlier this month for an inspirational look back at his career. When asked about one of his biggest setbacks, Porter told a candid story about clashing with his father.

Porter’s father also acts as his manager and trainer.

“My dad and I were not on the same page,” Porter said, “bumping heads in the gym and that carries on into home.”

“I basically stopped communicating with him, even though we were still in camp, still training together,” continued Porter. “I told myself that I had to protect myself, I had to protect my emotional state, I had to protect my mental and psychological state, so I could get in the ring and do what I had to do.”

The disagreement lasted three or four weeks, Porter said. It did not end until the weigh-in, on the day before a big fight. It was not clear which bout this preceded.

Porter was able to overcome the setback by creating space. “You’ve got to listen to him,” he said. “At the same time, create enough space from him so you can protect yourself and be ready for this fight.”

“We might all have relationships in our life that we shouldn’t have,” Porter said. “If there’s no way around it, we have to figure out how to make those relationships work that are going to be fruitful for us.”

Things have since gotten much better between Porter and his father. They continue to work together on a daily basis. “Through the grace of God, my dad and I are beautiful and closer than we’ve ever been,” he said. “But, for a while there, I thought it was the end for us.”