Sugar Shane Mosley is always well-groomed when in the public eye.
But I think he and handler James “Rap A Lot” Prince are about to get something trimmed at the Top Rank Barbershop in Las Vegas.
Come on in, fellas…two barbers, no waiting.
The older, almost venerable haircutter is Uncle Bob and he’s been running a shop, first in Manhattan and now in Vegas, for four decades.
The younger guy with the razor? That’s Cousin Todd duBoef, who came into boxing as green as fresh US money but learned his trade from Uncle Bob and learned it well.
According to 39 year old Mosley, who spoke to Lance Pugmire of the LA Times, the Houston based rap music-boxing mogul will visit Arum and duBoef’s Top Rank shop Tuesday.
There will be one limited subject and it’s how much money, guaranteed and in the form of a PPV TV overage, will Golden Boy refugee Mosley accept to fight Manny Pacquiao May 7 at the MGM Grand Hotel.
Arum has no meetings set with Golden Boy to wrangle over a purse for Juan Manuel Marquez. Ditto for Lou DiBella, who in accord with Al Haymond, handles Andre Berto’s business.
Pugnacious Pugmire writes, and I think he’s on firm footing because he often talks to Richie Rich Schaefer, that Juan Ma demanded $5 million firm and an upside of $5 per PPV buy over the 1.2 million mark, making a total purse of $8.5 million. To land the bout, and this my guesswork, Mosley must go much lower.
Prince and Mosley have to keep in mind that May 7 is not an African American themed holiday, it’s Cinco de Mayo weekend and fights fan have gotten used to going to gambling mecca to fun, frolic and fights featuring Mexican heroes named Chavez and De La Hoya.
Barber Bob and Barber Todd may pull the bait and switch move on Prince/Mosley and, given Mosley’s precarious financial situation since ex-wife Jin TKO’d Shane under Cali’s “community property” law, I think that he will come way under the Marquez demand and get the nod.
Another sign that it will be Mosely, at least in the Pacman camp’s thinking, is Coach Freddie Roach, already doing his Jekyll/Hyde routine. In one breath, Roach reminds us that Mosley was nabbed as a drug cheater and then, in another, delineates how rugged a foe seven years older than Manny fighter will prove to be.
Berto’s not even in line at the tonsorial parlor. Marquez priced himself out of serious consideration and only gets same if Prince/Mosley suffer delusions of grandeur.
I don’t see any reason why Mosley won’t jump to take about a $3.5 or 4 million gurantee, about the same as Antonio Margarito got for his beatdown by Megamanny with some PPV upside potential.
All Mosley must do is take a slight trim off the top, let a little get shaved off the bottom and his likely retirement bout will happen.
Prince is not going to Nevada to block the deal, that’s for sure. His chore is to lather up and lay back.
If he and Mosley do that, Arum will get a “Viva Mexico” ring outfit made up for Mosley.
“Mayweather Loves Mexico” so why can’t “Mosley Love Mexico” as well?
In this corner….Sombrero Azucar Mosley.
