Last night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada the boxing world was witness to a clinic on the highest of stages as Floyd Mayweather Jr. shut down sure-fire hall of famer Shane Mosley over twelve rounds. In the process we were able to see Mayweather overcome some serious adversity after getting stunned in the second round before turning the tide of the fight with his precise punching and ring savvy.
As soon as scores of 118-110 and 119-109 twice were read in Mayweather?s favor everyone began eyeing the undefeated fighters? future in the sport. The media center inside of the casino began filling up as people eagerly anticipated Floyd?s post fight arrival.
Less than an hour after his victory Mayweather made his way to the dais and was greeted with a round of applause for his performance. Floyd began speaking and gave his obvious respect to Mosley, who he claimed was ?tough? on many fronts, before taking questions from the media. When asked about the challenge of defeating Shane, Floyd pointed that he was born for these type of moments.
“Another tremendous fight,? Mayweather claimed. ?There was a point to prove; to see who was the best welterweight out there. Every fight is different, every fighter is different. Everyone was talking about how Mosley is stronger, how Mosley is faster. I rocked him more than he rocked me. I’ve got the will to win under the lights, but we all don’t form under the lights the same.?
Mayweather got a serious scare in the second round when he was clipped with a beautiful right hand from Mosley. Floyd?s knees buckled and he covered up before finding a way to weather the storm and turn the tide of the fight, ultimately winning every single round after the intense second stanza. When asked how much trouble he was in Mayweather noted that he has been in those waters before.
“Zab Judah hit me with a better shot and DeMarcus ‘Chop Chop’ Corley hit me with a better shot,? Floyd stated. ?I think he tried, but it’s just me being able to show my versatility to adapt and adjust. My game plan was going to work, break him down in every way. Even with the second round, I knew I was the strongest guy from the beginning. Every fighter is totally different.?
As the fight reached the mid rounds Mayweather was in complete control as the fight turned into more of a showcase than a fiercely contested affair. Mayweather tagged Mosley with clean right hands and had tremendous success in rounds seven and eight, where he bludgeoned his older foe with power shots. Mayweather conceded that as the fight progressed he seized command in every way.
“Mentally in the fight I was talking to him,? Mayweather said. ?Telling him ‘Your jab isn’t faster than mine; if it is let me see.’ After a while I think Mosley went into survival mode. All he was trying to do was survive. At one point I thought he was going to cough it up, but he held on valiantly.?
Mayweather went on state that he never studies an opponent on tape because they may be completely different when he finally sees them in the ring. One opponent who the public is pointing to is Manny Pacquiao, the reigning WBO welterweight champion. The two men were in discussions for a huge bout earlier this year but things fell apart at the negotiating table over a proposed Olympic style drug testing scenario that Mayweather presented. Mayweather insisted that he won?t budge from his stance and gave his reasoning.
“If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight, it is not hard to find me,? Floyd said boldly. ?We were going to make the fight a couple of months back but it didn’t happen. I take my hat off to Mosley. He had problems in the past but he’s a warrior. He took the blood and urine tests. I just want everyone to be on an even playing field. If every athlete is clean in the sport of boxing, take the test. If Manny Pacquiao takes the blood and urine tests, we can fight. If he doesn’t, we won’t make the fight.?
Mayweather seems to realize that many people are dying to see his perfect record finally blemished and stated ?The ultimate goal is to try to find a fighter than can beat me?. Mayweather also gave his thoughts on a potential bout with newly crowned middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, who defeated Kelly Pavlik last month to snatch the belts. Floyd seems to be open to the thought of moving up two divisions for a bout of that magnitude and said he is simply out to fight the best fighters out there.
In the past year Mayweather has been thrust back into the spotlight from his personal return to the ring to the surrounding drama that always surrounds his life. It has been a hectic time, but one in which Floyd has certainly relished as he is once again the topic of conversation on many levels. In closing the 33-year old points out that while there is still plenty of work ahead all he plans to do for now is to keep things simple and relax.
“My dad, Roger and I have chemistry. The game plan was unbelievable. I looked back at my dad and he’s telling me something. I looked back at Roger and he’s telling me the same thing. We had a grueling training camp. As of right now we just want to go home, reevaluate a few things, and see what we come up with. As of right now I just want to spend some time with my family.?
