Tungod, Inabanga, Bohol ? Sergio ?The Latin Snake? Mora (26-1-1, 6 KOs) may as well be called ?The Unknown Superstar?. His successful conquest of the Contender reality TV show made him a superstar, but his professional boxing activity in about 5 years since he won that tournament is relatively unknown? slightly, if not totally, below the radar. This is not to say, however, that he hasn?t fought quality opposition. He?s had two bouts against the late Vernon Forrest (41-3-0, 29 KOs), winning the first via close majority decision and losing badly in the 2nd, although he fought toe-to-toe with the same guy who beat his next opponent not just once, but twice.
This brings us to the 39-year-old man he?ll be trading mitts with this weekend ? ?Sugar? Shane Mosley (46-6-0, 39 KOs). Very few in the sport, active or retired, can lay claim that he?s had better quality of opposition than Mosley had. Mora will soon be part of a formidable list that include Oscar De La Hoya, Vernon Forrest, Winky Wright, Fernando Vargas, Luis Collazo, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, and the flamboyant Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The primary question about this Mora-Mosley showdown does not revolve around whether or not ?The Latin Snake? will climb the ring superbly in tiptop shape, ready, and focused for yet another tough grind. At this point in his career and with due consideration to the fighting style he employs, there is nothing much of a change, better or worse, we can expect from him. He will still be that same old slippery-as-a-snake slickster, sniper-accurate hitter, and cotton-ball-soft puncher. Mosley, on the other hand, is a huge puzzle waiting to unfold after the sound of the opening bell. Will he be as bad as his last fight? Or will he be as great and as excellent as the fight before? The result on that fateful evening hinges on Mosley and what remains of his legendary self. Mora, with his defensive wizardry, is a tough customer for anybody. Add the fact that he is much younger and the naturally bigger guy, then one would probably think that an old over-the-hill fighter who looked like a lost man in his last outing doesn?t stand a chance.
But what if the old man weaves his magic wand and pulls another surprise performance? What does it say about his last bout and the guy he fought and lost badly to? Is it possible that Mosley is really a beneficiary of the performance enhancing wonders of BALCO, which he could not use when he fought Mayweather due to strict drug testing measures for that bout? Was Mosley-Mayweather more of an ?arrangement? than a competition, noting the very perplexing manner that Mosley seem to have held back and considerably slowed down after clearly hurting Mayweather in the 2nd round, plus the business implications involved? Is it too farfetched that Mosley was just having an off-night? Or is Mayweather just that great of a boxer to upend such onslaught? These are some questions that are running through my mind and perhaps running through yours, too. With the recent controversies and discoveries in boxing, nothing seems to surprise me anymore. It seems as though everything?s possible, don?t you think?
