Tomorrow night boxing fans get the welterweight showdown they have been waiting years for, as ?Sugar? Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) takes on Floyd ?Money? Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KOs) live on HBO PPV.
Outside of Mayweather fighting Manny Pacquiao, this is easily the biggest fight of the year. Both Mayweather and Mosley are top 3 welterweights and top 5 pound-for-pound fighters. Mosley, although 38, is coming off perhaps the best performance of his career against Antonio Margarito last year. Mayweather, 33, is coming off a unanimous 12 round decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in September.
It?s a great matchup between two of the sports best fighters, whom will also be first-ballot hall of famers. According to odds makers in Las Vegas, Shane Mosley is about a 3 to 1 underdog against Floyd Mayweather. Sizeable odds for one of the best fighters in boxing. But Shane Mosley is a quick and powerful welterweight. Despite his jab attack being average, Mosley is one of the best combination punchers in boxing. He likes to track you down, hit you and finish you.
Mosley has always been one of the sport?s top finishers. Against Antonio Margarito, Mosley showed he is still a furious puncher, as he pummelled Margarito into submission. His tenacity in the ring that night was scary, while he beat on the favoured and near unstoppable Margarito for nine rounds. Mosley fought a smart fight, but he will need an even better game plan to defeat Mayweather.
Mosley and his trainer Naazim Richardson feel that they can outsmart Floyd and beat him. This week, Mosley has been reminding people that he is a quick and fast fighter too. But Shane is going to have to show a better defensive approach if he wants to beat Mayweather. He likes to let his hands go so much, that he sometimes leaves himself wide open for a big shot. Mayweather has the hand quickness to throw and land that big shot, so it should make for an intriguing in-ring storyline.
I think from the opening bell Mosley will try to overwhelm Floyd with his power and aggression. Shane?s best chance of winning may only be to stop the fight early. For Floyd Mayweather, fighting Shane Mosley could just prove to be the most difficult fight of his career. On paper, Mosley is probably the best opponent Mayweather has ever faced. But Mayweather can easily thwart the advantages that Mosley does have. Yes Mosley is fast, but Mayweather is much faster. Especially when it comes to defence.
No fighter in boxing slips punches better then Floyd Mayweather and no fighter throws better counter punches (maybe Bernard Hopkins). Mosley?s best attack is to be the aggressor, but that is also when Floyd fights at his best. He has a knack of making aggressive fighters look foolish, with his superior defensive skill. Once Shane lunges in to hit Mayweather, he may connect, but Floyd will be ready to throw three or four counter shots right back at him.
The defensive skill is great, but may lead to a boring fight. It is hard to blame Mayweather. He has superior quickness and footwork in the ring and can easily dance himself out of danger for 12 rounds. Mayweather is smart enough not to come at Mosley like Margarito did. The matchup is a good one and I would love to see the humble Mosley score the upset, but I just don?t see it happening. Mayweather is going to make Mosley come after him and that?s going to be the difference in the fight.
Mayweather has built a 40-0 record on his defensive ability, and Mosley is going to have no choice but to go after Floyd. When he does, I see Floyd landing many punches and those punches will start to take a very heavy toll on the 38 year-old Mosley by the middle rounds. So if Mosley does have a chance to win, he is going to need to get to Floyd early. But I just don?t see it. Mosley is a great fighter, but Mayweather, like him or not, is greater. Prediction: I see the fight being similar to Mayweather-De la Hoya. Shane will make the rounds close, but ultimately lose by decision. Mayweather by UD, probably winning 8 or 9 rounds.
