Shawn Porter trying to regain welterweight title in bout against Keith Thurman

Reporting from Brooklyn, N.Y. â€”  A large insect infiltrated the household, and boxing trainer Kenny Porter was eliminating any chance that the possibly poisonous creature would be around when his son, Shawn, returned home from errands.

“I’m gonna hit this thing twice. Have to make sure he’s dead,� Kenny Porter said before multiple sounds of whacks were heard.

Interesting choice of words, considering Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 knockouts) will try to recapture a welterweight belt Saturday night at Barclays Center against World Boxing Assn. champion Keith Thurman (26-0, 22 knockouts), who goes by the nickname “One Time.�

Kenny Porter doesn’t accept Thurman’s moniker, wondering, “When’s the last time he hit someone with one punch and knocked him out?

“His first 10 opponents have more than 100 losses, and his last three opponents are total age of 109. That’s a big difference … with the guys Shawn has faced.�

Shawn Porter, meanwhile, has defeated three world champions in his past five bouts, including Adrien Broner in June 2015.

Thurman understands the significance of this bout, as boxing’s deep welterweight division moves on from the retirements of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

“The stage has been my set, and now it’s my job to solidify my place,� Thurman, 27, said. “Nothing’s solidified now, with Kell Brook and Danny Garcia as undefeated champions. We’re going to have to fight it out.�

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Showtime Executive Vice President Stephen Espinoza said the Saturday bout is “an interesting contrast of styles and personalities. Shawn is exuberant, outgoing, personable, funny, and Keith is more reserved, introspective.�

Thurman dropped out of high school in his sophomore year, driven by the thought, “You can always go back to college. You can’t always try to be champion of the world.�

A serious reader, he developed an interest in Far East culture, samurais, religions and gurus, such as India’s late Osho.

“Osho was a great speaker and spoke of how to answer a question,� Thurman said. “Bring the question in, absorb it, give yourself time, then present a thoughtful answer.�

The benefits of Thurman’s private study can be seen in his fight preparation. His trainer, Dan Birmingham, said Thurman’s ability to improvise makes him the most innovative fighter he’s ever worked with.

“Keith’s an all-around better fighter [than Porter], a better puncher, more gifted in his attack,� Birmingham said. “He’s going to set [Porter] up and get him out of there.�

Porter disagrees, noting the car crash and injuries Thurman suffered on a rain-slicked Florida road that forced postponement of their original March 12 fight date.

Porter’s best edge could be the wisdom in his corner. Unlike the friction that’s hit numerous father-son trainer-boxer relationships, the Porters are very close.

“I coached him in football from 8 to high school,� Ken Porter said. “Shawn still lives with me. I’ve had him from diapers to now, 28 years.�

The younger Porter said the lessons are lasting.

“My dad told me at 10, ‘Life is just like boxing. The same ups and downs in the ring are the ones you have in life,’ � he said.

Thurman faces the task of stemming the aggressive Porter and believes his powerful right hand will do the job.

“I have power, but focus on the technique. You have to execute before acquiring the knockout,� Thurman said “You have to play the game before you hit a home run, right?�

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