Earlier today word spread that Andre Berto had pulled out of his scheduled January 30th bout with Shane Mosley at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Berto’s withdrawal is completely understandable, as the Haitan native has been devastated by the recent earthquake that hit his home country just recently. The tragedy took away members from Berto’s family and left the WBC Welterweight champion heartbroken and emotionally damaged.
“I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival,” Berto said via press release just hours ago. “I have seen the pain in my parents’ eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home. As a result of this disaster, I am mentally and physically exhausted and therefore I have no choice but to withdraw from my bout on January 30.”
While Berto’s bout with Mosley was looked at by many as the fight to jumpstart the New Year, it is a move that was necessary from the younger fighter’s end and it has certainly affected the landscape of the Welterweight division. With Andre now out of Mosley’s immediate future, fans and insiders alike have begun pondering the possibility of Mosley squaring off with undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., possibly in May.
In an BoxingScene article just hours ago it was also reported that the fight is in the works, according to Golden Boy Promotions’ Richard Schaefer, and the possibility of the fighters linking up has been the talk of the boxing world. Wanting to get a deeper sense of what everyone is feeling I uncovered some choice comments from the boxing public on some select forums. This is what everyone is saying…
(ako_barok @ PhilBoxing.com)… “If this were true, then Floyd Jr. refuses to fight Pacquiao whom he “suspects” of using PEDs and will fight Mosley who was proven to have used steroids?
Nah! Once a coward…, Floyd Jr. will duck Mosley!”
(O-Dogg33 @ BoxingFanatics.com)… “I don’t give a f*** about any of that Shane would still be the best welterweight Floyd has ever fought. This fight better happen now. There are no excuses….well let’s wait for Floyd to come up with some.”
(JakeJoson16 @ PhilBoxing.com)… “if he does fight mosley then ill give him some credit…it will be funny if he loses thoujgh….no more 40 mil baby”
(jrosales13 @ BoxingScene.com)… “It has to be made now. They have no choice but to make this fight. Anything else is unacceptable…”
(Tso Paeng @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “My heart goes to Andre and he made the right choice to take care of his family first. I will him well and hope he comes back stronger. As for this happening, this sets up Mosley vs Mayweather for Shanes title. If mayweather wins and pac wins, this sets up a unification bout for the fall and Maywether will be in my good book now. It will change my view win or lose. PLEASE TAKE THIS FIGHT FLOYD!! 2 fights that I am willing to pay for for 2010 and maybe a 3rd ppv that I will pay for in the fall. It could’nt have been written any better. I am praying that Mayweather takes this, blood testing or no blood testing. If Mosley takes the blood testing, it gives Pac less ground to not take the random blood testing. He will agree to it if Mosley does take it.”
(XCusemymood @ BoxingScene.com)… “Can’t wait.
Also I expect all of the real Mayweather hatrers who have called him a p**** or b**** to come clean and man up with respect. I’ll point you out by name when the fight us signed.”
(Rene @ BoxingFanatics.com)… “Yeah but by fight time Mosley will have not fought in a year and half. He’d have a better shot with the Berto fight and then Mayweather in May.”
(Deuce Drop @ BoxingScene.com)… “what about mosley and random testing? i wonder if mosley is going to get some side money for taking any extra test just to make it look like it’s no big deal and to make gbp/mayweathers try to look better? in regards to roids situation.
just wondering?
this would be a guy that i would expect someone to raise the roids question about playing mind games, because there is a history there with mosley.
???????”
(Red @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “It will be interesting to see if Mayweather will fight Mosley? I doubt it myself as Mosley is too dangerous. Floyd will find some excuse not to fight him.”
(Koboy @ BoxingScene.com)… “After the on again off again circus that was the Pac/PBF negotiations, I’m going to wait until the contracts are signed. There is a 95% chance, this fight won’t happen.”
(The Roc @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “Now Mayweather will be probably get some step aside money from HBO or Top Rank because Mosley vs Mayweather will at least double Pacquiao vs Clottey. If Mosley would have been smart he would have already fought Floyd back in 00 or 05. Now he looks to get probably a quarter of the money.”
(Queen Lei @ BoxingScene.com)… “When we pray to the GODS, they usually answer.”
(Eye of the Tiger @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “mosley should still keep a stay busy fight. he’s already been out for over a year. there’s no gurantee floyd wants to fight him. and if floyd does want to fight, mosley will be inactive for too long. if there was ever a time floyd would choose to fight mosley because of the inactivity and money it can generate.”
(Roger Mellie @ BoxingScene.com)… “A note of caution about his last sentence. The one thing that could kill this fight is if Floyd asks for a ridiculous% and tries to f*** Shane over on the money front. I dont think that Shane will have too many problems turning a s*** offer down as Floyd really doesnt have anywhere to go if this fight doesnt happen.”
(Debeucci @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “While I respect Berto’s decision…the topic comes down to two points. 1. Will Mayweather step up and actually fight Mosely. And 2. Will Mayweather put the exact same drug testing on constraints on Mosely that he tried to put on pacman. We already know Mosely has a history of steroids. If Mayweather does not do BOTH of those points above, then we know he was only trying to duck Pacquaio.”
(Lenny Anaconda @ BoxingScene.com)… “If Floyd doesn’t take this fight then that proves he’s scared of Mosley, because this is probably the best time for Floyd to fight him since he’s been off for over a year.”
(armor @ PhilBoxing.com)… “Schaefer saying there will be an announcement soon looks to be too much of a coincidence for a Mosley fight.
Wow. Floyd will face a welterweight ! Daddy must be proud !
His father, doing what any father would do for his son, is demanding:
– Mosley does not sleep 48 hours before the fight. – Mosley will only punch himself during the fight. – Judges score the fight only in favor of Junior. – After the fight, Mosley will admit taking steroids – Pacquiao will give his current title to the winner – Everyone in the arena would constantly shout “Floyd you are so pretty!” during the fight.”
(Nemo @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “I feel terrible for Berto’s family and friends in Haiti, and I fully understand his pulling out of this fight. But, this is great news for fight fans that want a credible opponent for Mayweather. Floyd has at least 3 options that make alot of sense right now Williams, Martinez, and Mosley. If he were to got off and fight a Kermit Cinton, or a Paulie with all of the good prospects floating around I think we all understand he is simply come out of retirement to pad his record and make a few dollars.”
(ColWallace @ BoxingScene.com)… “If Floyd stepped up and fought on the 30th would everyone would STFU and give him his due?”
(Carlitos Way @ PhilBoxing.com)… “here’s my theory. berto is dealing with a lot more important things right now with this haiti disaster. he’s got families out in the streets struggling just to survive day to day. it’s hard to stay focus for his fight when his loved ones are in a very desperate situation. osky calls him and ask him to take some step aside money to pave a floyd-shane fight with a promise for more money to take on the winner or loser of that fight. right now, it won’t take much to convince berto. it’s probably better for him until this haiti crisis settles down.”
(Raybans @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “I thoroughly respect Berto’s decision as this is a massive fight for him and he needs to be mentally and physically 100%. On the plus side now this frees up Mosely to fight Mayweather which is great because now there are two fighters in Mosely and Williams that Mayweather can face and has no reason to side step both of them. Lets see what Mayweather is really made of, there is no excuses now, he has to fight one of them, especially Mosely. This is great.”
(JmH Reborn @ BoxingScene.com)… “Meh, not interested in this fight. Berto was going to brutalize Shane…now I’ll be subject to Floyd fans spewing s*** after Floyd nearly kills Shane.”
(Nub Nubly @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “I really feel for Berto and think that was a good decision. No doubt about it. Now the question is “Will Money step up.” This is a psychological mindphuck for mayweather. Mosley is the one fighter he is intimidated by. Now this comes….even more surprise. Testing will HAVE to occur as Mosley has tested pos for PEDS and GBP has to keep face during the lawsuit. But this is THE fight to watch..IMO a better one to watch than Mayweather Pac….peace.”
(Cybiryan @ PhilBoxing.com)… “I smell a Goldenboy manuevering here. Before the earthquake, some reporter had speculated that Berto will be paid off to back out from the fight so that Mosley will eventually be paired off with PBF.
After reading, I said “THAT” is the only way for Floyd to compete with Manny on that same date of March 13. Otherwise, he better back out on that date because Malignaggi or Nate will look bad on him. HE MUST fight a welterweight as Manny had taken on a dan- gerous and big Clottey.
So its a competition of PPVs after all on March.”
(Boxing’s Truth @ BoxingScene.com)… “I was beginning to gather interest in the Pacquiao-Clottey fight. That s*** is out the window now. Pactards, that fight is all yours baby because Floyd is going to give us a gem.
I’m pretty sure Floyd is going to ask for similar drug testing that he request from Pac. He would look like an @ss if he didn’t. But I will say this, Shane is known to have cheated with PEDs before but I’ll be you what I don’t have that he’s not going to pull a PacRoid on us and run at the request of random blood tests. Shane will agree to blood tests between rounds.”
(tHeJoKeR @ PhilBoxing.com)… “Don’t underestimate Floyd please…
he’ll never run out of excuses!”
(TesticularKabob @ BoxingScene.com)… “Mosley was documented to have taken the clear, the cream, and epo before his fight with odl, which he won…This is documented with internal balco documents
As time passes, he juiced when he can, didn’t get on the cycle with cotto and lost to cotto got more disciplined with mayorga but looked terribly old tko ing him in the 12th
Got really roided up and did spectacular against margarito where mosley wuz the real cheater
with pbf, he won’t be able to juice up and will be come fight time an old man who will be ridiculed by pbf pot shots…easy victory for floyd”
(Jose7 @ RealGM.com)… “What excuses will the Floyd haters use after he destroys Mosley?”
(xEDDIEx @ BoxingScene.com)… “Make it happen! If this fight goes through it totally redeems Floyd from any damage his reputation has taken from the Pacquiao ordeal since Mosely is as good as anybody out there.”
(knicksNOTslick @ RealGM.com)… “I feel bad for Berto as well. Good thing his sister and niece are safe though.
By the way, if the Mosley/Mayweather negotiations doesn’t go smoothly, you know where to point the finger.”
(Flexxx145 @ BoxingScene.com)… “This is what the people want. I’m glad Berto backed out to take care of his business. My condolences to him and all of Haiti. But Mayweather vs Mosley is what the people really want. I hope they don’t do it March 13 because that would kill pac’s card. Even though I am a Floyd fan that would be just plain evil. The only way Pac could top that is by dumping Clottey and picking up Paul Williams. But we know he want’s no parts of that fight. If he thought Yuri Foreman was too big for him PW must scare him.”
