Last night the boxing world witnessed true greatness and all aspects of the game. It was a masterful performance and poetry in motion as Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. completely dominated “Sugar” Shane Mosley in every possible way. It was a boxing clinic. What was supposed to be the biggest test of Floyd’s career turned out to be a mismatch, not only of skills but will and determination. As I watched from my seat inside the MGM Grand Arena, I was in complete awe of what was taking place in front of my eyes.
The very first round was a bit surprising, as it was thought and perceived that Mosley was the bigger and stronger fighter. Yet, Mosley was back-pedaling and didn’t appear to want to engage immediately.
I said to myself, this will be a walk in the park for Mayweather because Mosley certainly couldn’t out box his opponent. At best he had a puncher’s chance and if he wasn’t willing to go forward and get it, more than likely it would never happen.
Round 2: Shane Mosley showed up as he caught Mayweather with an overhand right that found its mark but wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the fight but enough for him to win the round. That would be the only round Shane would win, as Mayweather regrouped and came out with a vengeance the next round.
Once again it was as though nothing had ever happened, and once again Mosley -the supposedly better puncher- was in retreat mode. Like a surgeon, Mayweather would dissect Mosley round after round and appear to cut his heart out, with Mosley going into survival mode.
The tenacity that has always been Mosley’s trademark was missing until the final 10 seconds of the fight, the next time we saw Mosley take a chance at emerging victorious.
Going into the fight, I felt this would be Floyd’s biggest test but I also knew that once Floyd found Mosley’s rhythm, it would be check and checkmate would not be too far away. I was right, although it came even earlier than I thought it would, a mere three rounds into the fight.
Floyd’s biggest critics and haters will say that Mosley got old overnight, although these are the same writers and/or critics who said he was picking on smaller fighters and that he wouldn’t fight a true welterweight… Well, not only did he fight a true welterweight, he dominated him mentally and physically.
It was a brilliant performance and with all the chaos after the Mayweather – Marquez fight when Mosley -with Bernard Hopkins’ help- acted like a bully, that night when he stole Mayweather’s night of glory, that night when he begged and shouted loud enough for anyone within ear reach of him what he would do if Mayweather got into the ring with him, well the old saying goes that when the bully realizes the person he’s called out isn’t scared of him at all, he begins to second guess himself and wants to back out of the situation, but it’s too late. The bully had put his foot in his mouth and the whole world saw him do it. Sometimes we get exactly what we ask for and sometimes we get the complete opposite.
Like my Mother used to tell me a long time ago, Be Careful What You Ask For….
