If there is ever anything that you can count on Teddy Atlas doing it would certainly be speaking his mind. Whether in the ring demanding the best effort from his fighters or giving insight on a week to week basis as an analyst for ESPN?s Friday Night Fights, Atlas have never been one to pull his punches and it is what has made him who he is in the boxing world.
While getting ready to cover a card in Memphis, Tennessee, Atlas recently took some time out of his schedule to give his thoughts on this Saturday?s fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Very few bouts in recent times have had as much intrigue or build up as this particular contest and all it took was a few simple questions to get Atlas going.
The fight is meaningful on many fronts, especially when you consider the fact that the two men have been linked together for over ten years, from when Mosley and Mayweather were champions in the lightweight and jr. lightweight divisions, respectively. While their career paths have been strikingly different, with Mayweather remaining undefeated and Mosley suffering five heartbreaking losses, what still remains is the fact that they are still two of the world?s premier fighters and there will surely be much on the line when the two finally meet.
Atlas himself feels that the fight will be well worth the wait and that Mosley is certainly one of the most dangerous fighters that Mayweather will have ever faced. In his own words this is what Atlas had to say about each man?s strengths, the question marks surrounding both fighters, and more?
Weighing the intangibles? ?In Mayweather you have a guy with guile and speed against Mosley, the guy with strength and experience. You know, ?Sugar? Shane Mosley when you think of him his nickname evokes a real slickster, a real fast guy. But the funny thing about that is that in reality Mosley has never really been that, never. He?s a strong guy, a guy that will take it to you. Obviously he?s always in good shape and he has good skill sets. But really the guy who should have the ?Sugar? nickname in this instance is Mayweather. He?s the guy who wants to be slick and more of finesse guy. I think that?s what it?s going to be. It?s going to be the finesse, the guile, the speed against the strength and experience and toughness of Mosley.?
The Pacquiao effect? ?It?s obvious that people were talking about Pacquiao and Mayweather. The both went on to different opponents and Pacquiao went first last month. There?s no doubt who had the tougher dance partner by far. It?s Mayweather. He got the guy that?s not only more experienced that Clottey and more experienced that Clottey, which he is, and he?s better technically that Clottey. But he also proved that he can win on the next level, a high level. He?s a guy who proved he will act the right way on this level and he will handle all the moments that this level brings with it. He has the heart and determination, the experience, and the character, the skills, the abilities, and he has the instinct and all of those things to pull it off on the next level. Those are things that Clottey had never shown that he could do that.?
Far from used up? ?Even though Mosley is getting a little long in the tooth now and you do have a fear of when he will get old. He?s up there and you do have that in mind a little bit. I still feel that it is going to be a terrifically contested fight. Because Mosley is far from used up and because being the kind of level fighter he has been with his skills he hasn?t been there. I think it?s going to come down to Mayweather stretching the ring out a little bit and wanting a little distance to do his thing and use his speed. He will want to get a little distance and Mosley will want to push the fight.?
Working the body? ?One good thing going for Mosley, besides many good things going for him, is that he is a good body puncher and that is what you need to be against Mayweather. You need to bang that body and slow him down a little bit. You have to slow some of the head movement a little bit and freeze him a little bit. That?s one thing that bodes well for Mosley.?
At the end of the day? ?At the end of the day, at this point in their careers, Mayweather will be faster and I think he is going to have to rise the occasion. He will have to select the right fight plan and the right approach to go. And I think it will be an interesting battle most of the night. I think that at the end of the day when you get to the point that Mosley is at in his career it?s not that you can?t pull the trigger but you don?t find a way to do the little things sometimes in a fight of this level. And you wind up having an off night just a little bit. Maybe you don?t have the urgency and maybe just mentally you don?t take the risks. Not that you don?t think of taking them but for some reason you just don?t take them instinctively when you were years younger. And I think that maybe it is the difference because it allows Mayweather to do a little more and possibly win a decision.?
