Kevin Iole at Yahoo recently reported that the signing of Floyd Mayweather, Jr.-Shane Mosley fight is “imminent.” Interesting indeed. If true, then Mayweather finally found not only a fighter who may well need a few extra procedures in the performance enhancing drug testing department, but also the guy who is more than happy to agree to take them–for legacy purposes. Mayweather will also be signing on to meet his most dangerous opponent to date.
The Iole report lists May 1 as the anticipated date and Mosley’s WBA belt is apparently at stake, which is unusual since he should have been stripped of his WBA title by now as he hasn’t fought since January 2009. Titles do not matter anyway unless it is for the Pacquiao title (see also Pacquiao lottery). This assumes of course that Pacquiao gets by Joshua Clottey in March.
Now Mosley is 38 years old and he struggled to a 12th round victory over Ricardo Mayorga. He lost to Miguel Cotto and he laid an old fashioned, behind the woodshed buttocks-related beat down on Antonio Margarito in his last fight. Again, however, that was a lifetime ago. Regardless, there is no evidence to suggest that Mosley is an old fighter. Frankly, there is no evidence of anything at this point. The only thing we do know is that Mosley will bring his A game. The only question is does he still have one?
Credit will be given to Mayweather for selecting the toughest fight for him this side of Paul Williams and Manny Pacquiao once the deal is done. For the matter to get this far in the press though, we can stand for the ovation and reserve the applause for another day. Even though the Mosley-Mayweather fight should have occurred years ago, it represents the test at welterweight that we have demanded of Mayweather. Mosley is faster and stronger than Juan Manuel Marquez. He is smarter than Ricky Hatton and we believe, unlike Oscar De La Hoya, that he can still pull the trigger. As Freddie Roach once said, Mosley is the toughest opponent for Pacquiao. He is a legitimate welterweight–something that Mayweather tends to avoid.
Mayweather will undoubtedly be the betting favorite, and a win over Mosley will silence the critics. Well, replace the roars with loud whispers anyway. Should both Pacquiao and Mayweather win, then the richest fight in boxing history is not only going to happen, but it will happen this year. If either lose, then it will likely never happen at all.
This matter will be revisited as the contract ink is drying. Until then, get it done. Boxing needs it after the Mayweather-Pacquiao debacle. The reality is that Mayweather needs it more. Pacquiao has the better welterweight resume at this point. In one transaction, Mayweather can make a case to the contrary.
