It?s why we love boxing, the theater of the unexpected. Shane Mosley had steroids allegations and a divorce hanging over his head as he got ready to face off with the real life Terminator, Antonio Margarito. But Mosley, at age 37, scored the most monumental win of his career as he stopped Margarito in the ninth round at a jam-packed Staples Center on Saturday evening. Mosley used his legs, and his brain, and his super-speedy right hand to dominate Margarito, who looked like the man who didn?t have his head in the game. The end for Margarito came at 43 seconds of the ninth, and with it Mosley took the WBA weltwerweight crown.
Margarito, age 30, came in weighing 160, after hitting 146 Friday. The three-division ex champ Mosley (age 37) , who needed a bathroom break to take off 2/10 of a pound and hit 147 Friday, weighed 160 on fight night. Both men reside in California.
Mosley got the best of it in the first, but Tony got his jab untracked late. Mosley?s body work spoke volumes. In the second, Tony looked a bit frustrated with Mosley?s movement and grabbing. The ref told Mosley to watch his head in close. In the third, Tony whined about butts. Mosley slammed a few rights to his ear. His hand-speed edge stood out. As impressive was his slick work tying Tony up when in close. In the fourth, Mosley?s legs still gave Tony fits. A flurry in the center of the ring did too with 30 seconds to go. You could?ve had it 4-0 Mosley on your card. ?Your combinations, no one in this division has hands as fast as yours. Knock the grease off this dude, and sim and don?t get wet? trainer Nazim Richardson told Mosley after. In the fifth, Mosley smothered Margarito; he didn?t back off Tony, so Margarito couldn?t elongate his arms effectively. In round six, Mosley looked fresh, as Tony backed up, and sagged into the ropes with 40 seconds to go. He then ate vicious rights that had the crowd getting raucous. ?What?s wrong, are you tired?? Margarito?s trainer Javier Capetillo asked. In the seventh, Mosley again dictated the space in between the two. Mosley smashed a right to the chin with two seconds to go. In round eight, Tony looked like he knew he needed to get busy, right quick. He landed some ripping rights, but Mosley roared back, and staggered him down the stretch. He scored a knockdown, with a left hook and flurry, and Margarito got up wobbly at eight. The bell saved him, and he went to his corner, woozy. His corner almost stopped it, but Tony demanded to continue. In the ninth, Mosley pressed on the gas, caught him on the ropes, and the ref had to step in. It was over.
The combatants squared off in front of 20,820 fans, the most ever assembled for an event, any event, at the Staples Center. Off topic slightly, the crowd response when Margarito strolled to the ring upped Margarito?s asking price, in the event, by at least 30%. The American-Mexican fighter has been thoroughly embraced by a mad crush of fans.
Everyone quieted down for a 10 bell salute to Jose Torres, the former light heavyweight champion, who died last week.
Stay tuned for David Avila?s ringside report.
There was controversy before the bout kicked off, as California commissioners found pads in Margarito?s handwraps, which they alleged could harden, and aid his punching power. They made Margarito re-wrap his hands, without the illegal pads.
