This Saturday?s fight between Michigan?s Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and California?s Shane Mosley features two of America?s biggest names in boxing who, through the years, has developed their respective cult followings among American fight fans. They are both crafty and skillful with outstanding ring smarts that set them apart from the rest of the pack.
For all the parallelism in their achievements and skills, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Shane Mosley are actually two sides of a coin. Their trademark fighting styles are poles apart. Even their personalities and egos are on the opposite side of the spectrum. Like a page taken from an ancient book on Oriental mysticism, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is the Yin to Shane Mosley?s Yang.
In Floyd Mayweather, Jr., you have the villain and the showman who will not mince words to degrade and insult an opponent to get in his head as well as sell the fight. On the other hand, Shane Mosley is the quiet and unassuming type whose fists speak volumes once inside the ring.
While Mayweather utilizes the size of the ring to evade his opponent, Mosley purposely cuts it to stalk and attack his prey. While Mosley aims to land those powerful bombs at close range, Mayweather is content at sniping with those stingers from a distance. While Mayweather would usually cruise to victory, Mosley wants to end it inside early.
Despite Mosley?s age, he poses a real threat to Mayweather?s unblemished record in the ring. Mosley is a fighter who has engaged in life-or-death situations with elite fighters before. Mosley is a fighter who has been there and done that. In contrast, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.,despite his sterling record of 40-0, has never been in a fight of his life, blame them partly on his innate boxing skills and talent, that?s why this fight is a real huge test for him. If Mosley can catch him with those bricks early, Mayweather might end up doubting himself and lose this one big time. But if Mayweather manages to wither the storm and impose his will, then expect a tiring and frustrated Mosley to become careless and be ripe for the picking in the later rounds.
The May 1st fight between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Shane Mosley is really a study in contradiction. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is the consummate all- around fighter whose ring generalship is the best in the game, while Shane Mosley?s hand speed and powerful fists, even at 38 years old, is still one of the wickedest in the sport. The clash of styles will be evident in the fight and surely lead to its unpredictability.
With that in mind, predicting the outcome of this fight is a hard issue to tackle even for many students of the pugilistic world as well. It is a tough shell to crack since there is no exact science when it comes to the sweet science?s crystal ball?s predictions. And as Jeff S. of Ecorse, MI conveyed to this writer that, ?choosing the winner of this fight is like choosing between the proverbial rock and a hard place.?
But no matter what, this fight holds a lot of promise, although if we judge it through the old clich? that ?styles make fight? it will probably not end up as a classic. Still, this is an intriguing one that will test both fighters? resolve and focus. It will be a showcase of Floyd Mayweather, Jr.?s speed, skill and good reflexes against Shane Mosley?s patience, perseverance and power.
And contrary to the opinions of many, this writer picks Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to finally suffer the bitter taste of defeat as well as give a toast to Shane Mosley on Saturday night when he savors the sweetest victory of his illustrious career.
Alas, for all its excitement, suspense and adrenaline rush, the Sweet Science in reality is a cruel sport, not only to the protagonists, but to the people around it. Truly, fight prediction is really a hit or a miss thing. If you get it right, then you?re an expert, but if you get it wrong, you end up a fool. The difference literally and figuratively lies to the ones who can take it on the chin, laugh at himself and move on when it is all said and done.
So, Who R U Picking?
**Watch out for the next article where Michiganders weigh in on the fight as well as know the places where you can watch the fight live.
