MOSLEY?S LOSS SENT SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE TO PAC
New York, NY- Those who are familiar with the sweet science are also familiar with the adage that boxing is 90% mental and 10% physical. If ever there were a display of this truth, it was when Floyd Mayweather (41-0 25 KOs) met Shane Mosley (46-6 39 KOs) on Saturday night. Not only did Floyd win the smack talking battles prior to the bout, he also won the chess match in the ring. Many saw Mosley as the bigger and more threatening man in this bout and Shane looked great in the second round. The problem facing the Pomona, CA native was that he was facing the best and smartest boxer on the planet.
DID SECOND ROUND PUNCH TAKE AWAY WINNING PLAN?
Because Floyd chose to fight more aggressively in this bout, he gave his opponent a chance to do what some hoped could happen and knock Floyd out. When Shane hit Floyd with a great shot in the second round, it hurt Mayweather and momentarily had him staggered. But psychologically, taking Mosley?s best shot may have been Floyd?s biggest trump card in winning the bout. It was what Mayweather did after that shot, which proved the difference in the bout.
FLOYD IS EITHER CRAZY OR BRILLIANT
After the shot, Mayweather stood in front of Mosley, utilized his defense pressed forward. Mayweather not only stared defeat in the eyes, but also managed to negate himself as an easy target and fought through adversity like no one expected. Mentally, this gamble (or calculated strategy) seemed to discourage and confuse Mosley who probably believed Mayweather would fold after being hit with a big punch.
WITH NO ANSWER, SHANE MUST QUESTION SELF
Rather than a focus on setting up shots with a jab or going to the body Mosley got anxious and started looking more like a musician playing the maracas than a hall of fame fighter. Just at Floyd Mayweather Sr. predicted, Mosley fought extremely jittery and appeared hesitant to let his hands go. A lot of this was also due to Floyd using offensive aggression and snapping Mosley?s head back like a catapult.
?FLOYD THE MAGIC DRAGON!?
During the negotiations it was Mosley?s trainer Nazim Richardson who said, ?Shane Mosley can knock anything out at 147 lbs.? Although this is probably true it indeed means nothing if there is no target to hit. But even when he did land, he had a whole new animal to deal with. The proverbial dragon. As Nazim Richardson predicted, Mayweather got hit, turned into a dragon and began spitting fire. But as he attacked, he never allowed Mosley to get close enough to step on his tail or punching him clean again. It appears Floyd had all the mental advantages from the start of the negotiations until the end of the bout. That along with his skills made it so easy for him to win.
?POUND FOR POUND? KING NO LONGER PAC
Not that he truly ever was, but now Manny Pacquiao can no longer claim to be boxing?s best fighter in any weight class. Floyd?s win over both Juan Manuel Marquez, and now Mosley, they clearly indicate, especially in light of the fact that Manny could have lost both fights to the Mexican mauler, that Floyd Mayweather is the best boxer ?pound for pound? in boxing!
Jarrad Woods
