I admit it. I am a fan first and writer second when it comes to Saturday?s mega-bout between Floyd ?Money? Mayweather and ?Sugar? Shane Mosley. And it?s finally here?in a day.
Writing those ?top 5′ blogs earlier this week, it was weird because I didn?t have to conduct any research on those bouts. I remembered when they happened and what happened.
These two are what really got me into boxing. As I?ve said before, Mayweather?s second-round TKO of Angel Manfredy in December 2008 was what got me hooked.
So, what will happen Saturday? For the record, the tagline ?who r u picking? is one of the worst ever, right?
As much as I love both guys, I am not expecting an all-time great fight. The potential is there, it really is. It?s all in the hands (or should I say feet) of Mayweather.
If Mayweather chooses to stand and trade, we could be looking at a fight that could convert some young fans into the sport. I don?t want to go as far to Marvin Hagler-Tommy Hearns, but there are combustible elements in this one.
My fear, though, is that once Mayweather feels Mosley?s power, he?s going to revert to what he did in his second fight against Jose Luis Castillo.
Mayweather will fight effectively from the outside, pot-shotting Mosley without putting himself in any danger. He?ll win the fight, yes, but he won?t gain any fans.
The infamous Sept. 1999 KO magazine cover that said Floyd Mayweather, not Shane Mosley, was the future of boxing. I still have this mag.
To be fair to Mosley, he is in another class than Castillo. Mosley is going to make this a fight. Even in his five losses, he?s never been in retreat and ?just content to go 12 rounds.?
Look at four of those losses (two to Vernon Forrest, two to Winky Wright). Those were against two tall fighters who knew how to fight tall. They used their jab and kept Mosley at the end of it all night.
Does Floyd even remember how to jab? I don?t know. His skill set is so large that he hasn?t really used it effectively here later in his career. He?s talked about using it, we?ll see.
But the speed in Floyd?s straight right hand acts a lot like a jab. Mosley might find himself chasing Mayweather for 36 minutes as opposed to fighting him.
I?m not falling for the Mayweather bravado. As I said a couple of weeks ago, he says the same thing every time on 24/7 about how he?s going to knock the guy out?brutally. It?s not in his nature. He picks his spots, and if the guy happens to wilt under his assault, he?ll take it.
The only time in recent memory I can remember Floyd going for it was the Gatti fight. Right from the outset, he wanted to make a statement. His other major bouts since (Zab Judah, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez), Mayweather has started slow and then made his mid-fight adjustment and carried the day.
And what effect will 16 months off have on Mosley?s legs and coordination? He?s got some miles on him. I don?t think he?ll grow old in a day (as the saying goes), but he might be a quarter or half step slower, which he can ill afford to be.
The best thing for the sport, I believe, would be a Mosley win. It would set up a rematch, it would set up a new drive and determination in Mayweather. Manny Pacquiao enters the equation again. If Mayweather wins, boxing is set up for Mayweather-Pacquiao?and that?s it.
I remember being all jacked up for Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad in September 1999. Everyone said it could go two ways: a chess match or an all-out war. People salivated over the idea of a war, and we got the chess match. I?m not putting myself through that again so going in with the low expectations this time.
Official prediction: Mayweather unanimous decision (117-111, 116-111, 116-112) in a game of cat and mouse. Hope I?m wrong, be back late late Saturday with thoughts and observations.
