Currently in training for his mega fight with Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley seems cool and collected at his training camp in Big Bear. Raymundo Dioses examines what’s going on in Mosley’s camp and gives us his his own thoughts.
“Sugar” Shane Mosley is heading into what could be labeled as arguably the biggest fight of his already Hall of Fame worthy career when he looks to best the undefeated Floyd Mayweather on May 1 at the MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 38 year-old Pomona, California native drank from the youth well to knockout the favored Antonio Margarito during his last bout in January 2009, and seeks to do the same when he faces the pristine record of Mayweather, hoping to stop the 33 year old in his tracks; in his own hometown, nonetheless. (Interestingly, Mosley’s age isn’t listed on boxrec.com. Is that on purpose?)
Mosley’s rejuvenation is in part due to the magic of switching trainers successfully, opting away from his father Jack Mosley and enlisting Bernard Hopkins trainer Naziim Richardson. In their first fight together, the trainer not only pushed Mosley to even higher levels, the trainer spotted Margarito’s hand wraps to be too large for comfort, and in demanding a re-taping, saved his fighter from facing a man with gloves loaded with plaster-like substances.
Mosley would win the fight anyhow as he sent Margarito down on punches, the referee was making his way in to stop the fight, and Team Margarito threw in the white towel in a ‘trifecta’ of a win for Mosley.
Now, the tattoo clad, bowling novice, and veteran title wearing Mosley will sink his teeth into another, more favored fighter, in a fight that he has dreamed of for years, and hope to prevail in his defense of the WBA welterweight strap.
May the best welterweight win.
“The Rock” Tattoos
Images released to media outlets on Tuesday show a tattooed Mosley. Sugar’s left arm now dons what looks like former wrestler-turned actor “The Rock” inspired tattoo, extending around his left shoulder and running down his arm to the biceps region.
It’s a cool looking tattoo.
Now I guess we know what Mosley was doing from January 2009 to May 2010, while he was holding out for a big name opponent.
It gives Mosley, one of the most kind-hearted and humble boxers in the history of the sport, a slightly more menacing look.
Those of us out there who don tattoos know that the needle is no joke, and the amount of work that Mosley has, that looks like a Samoa-tribe tat, know that Mosley was in the chair for sometime and suffered a good amount of pain in the process.
Bowling in Big Bear
Mosley can be spotted every Tuesday night at the “Bowling Barn” in Big Bear, which the champion uses as a hobby in between training.
It was reported that “Sugar” is as sweet as he is on ring-canvas on the wood floor, boasting a high score of 242.
At least it’s safer than his previous exploits in the often snow filled city: snowboarding.
Mosley had kind words for the city that he trains in for his matches, and also owns a private home in the town.
“I love Big Bear and have gotten very comfortable with the surroundings and the people who live up here,” said Mosley. “It’s quiet, peaceful, the air is clean and the altitude can’t be beat. There is no other place that I could feel more relaxed and ready to prepare for a fight, particularly a big one like this.”
Mosley Up At 7 For Training
While most of us are treading along a traffic-packed freeway on our way to our respective jobs, Mosley begins, running in the morning, followed up with massage and fitness training before resting in the mid-afternoon and fulfilling media obligations.
The night is when the gloves meet the pads, as Mosley prepares for his second fight under trainer Richardson. Training includes hitting the heavy bags, mitts, and sparring.
This weekend marks the first installment of the HBO series Mosley/Mayweather 24/7.
Check your local listings for times.
Mosley and Mayweather are set to meet on Saturday, May 1 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a bout which will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View? beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
QUOTABLE:
Writer Ron Borges regarding Roy Jones and his reluctance to retire:
“He has not won a meaningful fight since he beat John Ruiz seven years ago to claim the WBA heavyweight title. It was a proper moment to walk away but the guy who never wanted to fight when he was capable of it now finds himself unable to stop when he can’t.”
THROUGH MY EYES
First Roy Jones/Bernard Hopkins, now Evander Holyfield/Frans Botha? Geeze. At least these next few weekends will show some momentum in boxing, with Pavlik/Martinez, followed by Arreola/Adamek, then M vs. M, then Marquez/Vasquez IV. Sometimes you have to go through the worst before it gets better, right???… For what its worth, Andre Berto takes on Carlos Quintana this weekend. Have they even done any promotion for this fight?… So the Simms brothers fight and get locked up. Sometimes, you can’t write the stuff that happens in boxing, it’s so ridiculous? Joel Casamayor, Joel Casamayor, Joel Casamayor? Thompson Boxing Promotions returns April 23 in Ontario, California. The reliable promotional company regularly hosts competitive and entertaining events, and is definitely worth a trip to sunny So Cal? Jorge Arce takes on Christian Mijares this weekend in the non-televised bout in Mexico? Regarding Mosley/Mayweather, I would like to point out that recent writer-turned broadcaster and Ring online writer Doug Fischer is boldly choosing Mosley with the Upset Special, and I would like to officially jump into that boat with him, however many few the boat holds. Its 40-1 come May 1 for ?Money’? I remember watching a Yahoo! Sports interview with writer Kevin Iole, who was picking De La Hoya by stoppage in the mid-rounds the day prior to their December 2008 fight. Hey, even the experts can get stuff wrong sometimes? No matter who won on Monday, Duke and Butler both put on a great show?
