CIRCUMSTANCES dictate that I would have to defer the second part of ?Selling a Suggestion? next week to give way to a feature on a very interesting fight happening today between the cerebral Sugar Shane Mosely 44-5 (37KOs) and the feral Ricardo Mayorga, 29-6, (23KOs).
If you think about it, this fight demonstrates why there are so many (fans and foes alike) who are aghast at Oscar De La Hoya?s choice of opponent for a much-ballyhooed final fight.
While his buddy, former rival and now business partner (who is in fact quite smaller than him) is going after the big lions in the junior middleweight division, Oscar has opted to face the biggest lion in the (drum rolls please?.) lightweight division.
No matter. Onward with today?s business.
POWER. The Sugar Man?s stoppage ratio looks good on paper. But we all know that his power has dissipated since he moved up in weight.
He has only two stoppage wins in the last seven years and both came against the soft-chinned Fernando Vargas. The first win wasn?t even a true knockout as the referee stopped the contest due to a huge swelling that developed on Vargas? eye.
Mayorga?s recent performances are not that impressive either. But his being the naturally bigger man gives him the edge in this department.
Advantage: Mayorga
SPEED. This one?s easy. Speed has always been a big part of Shane?s game. Against a bigger, slower guy, Mosely will look even faster.
Advantage: Mosely
BOXING ABILITY. Another easy task. Mosely by a mile. Mayorga doesn?t have boxing ability. Just mauling tendencies.
Advantage: Mosely
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. Aside from Mayorga being the bigger, stronger fighter, everything looks like its going to go Mosely?s way. But remember that Mayorga owns two victories over the only guy to beat Shane Mosely twice (thrice if you include the amateurs)-Vernon Forrest.
This should be a huge psychological advantage for Mayorga coming in to this bout. Should he be able to feed off that, the ?Matador? will be oozing with confidence at fight time. And a bullish, bold Mayorga is no easy task.
EXPECT THE FIGHT: To be full of fireworks. There?s no such thing as a feeling out round for a guy like Ricardo Mayorga. Every round is an ?I?ll- take-you-out? round for him.
He likes to bring it and Shane will only be too happy to oblige. But Mosely should be wary of Mayorga?s heavy hands and resist the temptation to slug it out, at least in the early rounds.
De La Hoya easily out-boxed Mayorga and so Shane should be able to do the same thing.
Superior hand speed will mean all the difference in this fight. If Mosely resists the urge he should be able to handily secure a unanimous decision win.
If he elects to go for it, he should lay the groundwork first. By that I am referring to the body shots that will slow down Mayorga in the middle rounds so he can take him out probably in the 10th round.
But Shane will probably play it safe and use this fight as a springboard for bigger prey now that his career is winding down.
PREDICTION. Mosely by unanimous decision.
SACCI IS SEC-REGISTERED. The Sportswriters Association of Cebu City Inc.- of which this Last Rounder is a proud member- is now a juridical entity after having been officially accorded SEC registration. Congratulations guys!
Our gratitude goes out to Atty. Alma Marie E. Dalena and Larisa Habin Polinar of SEC-Cebu for their assistance and attention on this matter. Cheers!
THE LAST ROUND. It?s on my good buddy Lyndon Z. Naya, doting dad to baby Dylan, and loving hubby to wife Debbie who celebrates his birthday today. Cheers!
