At any Golden Boy Promotions event you could likely find the great ?Sugar? Shane Mosley and such was this case for this weekend?s Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz rematch at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. A staple on the West Coast fight scene, Mosley has been a fan favorite ever since defeating Oscar De La Hoya at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in June of 2000 and makes his yearly cameo appearances in the Vegas valley.
Upon leaving Friday?s weigh in, Mosley preferred to keep things on the down low but still took time to break bread with the Examiner. The Pomona, California fighter is slated for a September 18th showdown with Sergio Mora, known best for his role in the first season of The Contender as well as his one-fight stint as the WBC Jr. Middleweight champion of the world. Mosley isn?t taking his 29-year old opponent lightly in any regard.
?Sergio is a tough fighter,? Shane said. ?He fought Vernon and found a way to beat him. He?s bigger, he?s coming down and I?m moving up to 154. It should be a good fight.?
Mosley is coming off of a May 1st loss to Floyd Mayweather in which he stunned Floyd with a piercing right hand in the second round before being practically shut down the rest of the way. In looking back at his loss Mosley can?t make any excuses and gives Mayweather full credit.
?He?s very technical fighter, he?s good,? Mosley says of Mayweather. ?I just couldn?t get my shots off with him. But he did what he had to do to win and I take my hat off to him.?
Mayweather of course was rumored to be in discussions for a November 13th fight with Manny Pacquiao but the second round of negotiations again fell apart. It was looked at by some as the fight to save boxing and Mosley?s disappointment in the fallout is evident.
?It?s sad for boxing that it would fall out,? he said. ?Hopefully one day in 2011 they will get it on so we can see who is the best fighter.?
Pacquiao will now find himself in the ring with former champion Antonio Margarito, who is looking to redeem himself following his one-year suspension by the California State Athletic Commission. While some are critical of the contest, Mosley isn?t completely sure that Margarito will be easy work for the Filipino icon.
?You never know,? Shane stated. ?Styles make fights and Margarito is a lot taller and he has a longer range. It might be hard for Pacquiao to get in but you never know. Pacquiao is a buzz saw and one of the greatest fighters.?
In November of 2007 Mosley would lose a closely contested battle to Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden in a fight that could have went either way. Cotto would end up being stopped by Margarito in July of 2008 and his TKO loss to Manny Pacquiao last November left his career in question. Seeing Cotto return with a strong showing against Yuri Foreman last month, in which he stopped the Belarus fighter in the 9th round, was a breath of fresh air and Mosley was impressed.
?I think Miguel Cotto did very well,? Mosley continued. ?I liked the way he moved around and put his punches together. I?m not sure that Yuri Foreman was a good test to see where Cotto is at but he definitely looked real good.?
At the age of 38 Mosley seems set on fighting for at least a few more years. He has always stayed in tremendous shape and his longevity in the sport has been notable. Elaborating further Mosley notes that he would be open to the thought of facing the reigning Middleweight champion after the Mora clash.
?I like Sergio Martinez,? Mosley says of the WBC and WBO champion. ?He?s also a great fighter. Maybe that?s a fighter I can get into the ring with one day. Maybe even after this fight with Sergio Mora.?
Mosley?s 46-6 record with 39 knockouts has been filled with ups and downs largely due to his willingness to face any and all comers. Time and time again Mosley has been written off, only to come back and reclaim his place atop the sport. Asked how he has continued to defy the odds, Mosley keeps it simple.
?It?s my heart. I love to fight and it?s just my love for the sport. Being in the gym, keeping myself in shape and I?m ready to bounce right back into the ring. I?ll be ready to go.?
For images of Shane Mosley, Sergio Mora, Victor Ortiz, Saul Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya and others at Saturday?s press conference to announce the September 18th fight please click on the slideshow below?
