Erik Morales stunned the boxing world by totally obliterating predictions and expectations that he would suffer a humiliating defeat from the hands of Argentinean Marcos Maidana.
Instead, he bucked a closed right eye to give his best performance ever since absorbing his second TKO loss to Manny Pacquiao.
True, Morales was no longer the Erik who dominated the super bantamweight and featherweight classes at the turn of the millennium. But against the best super lightweights today, Morales proved can still duke it out the way he did against Maidana Sunday. But boxing is a sport not for the aged ? when being old begins as soon as one reaches his mid 30s.
Will Morales, who demanded a rematch against Maidana, continue to perform at the top level and prove that his class act Sunday was not the one last bout all previous boxing greats would like to summon?
Which leaves us with the same question for the 39-year old Shane Mosley, who will square off with Manny Pacquiao less than four weeks from now.
Mosley is an 18-year veteran in professional boxing, a considerable feat in the modern era of the sports where 80 per cent are retired even before they reach their 20th professional fights.
Mosley, like Morales, will not only be going against a younger boxer. In Pacquiao, he will be up against the number one pound for pound fighter today who probably will end up as the greatest fighter of all time or at least be high up in the debate.
Shane is durable, tough and resilient. Nobody has ever stopped him.
In his losing effort against Floyd Mayweather Jr, he showed flashes of brilliance in the opening rounds and stunned the former pound for pound king in the second round with a vicious right hand.
He however failed to finish off Mayweather and faded very quickly to lose via a lopsided unanimous decision.
But Mosley is simply too great to be dismissed as a shot fighter the way many boxing pundits said Morales did not have a chance against Maidana.
Mosely once owned the quicker hands and footwork among the lightweights and welterweights. While he can no longer sustain such speed over twelve rounds, he can still fight in spurts, which makes him still a dangerous fighter.
However, Pacquiao is a class all by himself. There is no comparison between him and Mosley and Maidana and Morales. They are apples and oranges.
The only way Mosley can probably beat Pacquiao is to knock the Filipino eight-division world champion in the early rounds.
Mosley?s trainer has repeatedly said they have found Pacquiao?s weaknesses. Many did, too, until they found out there is no anti-dote for them.
Coach Freddie Roach is a master of strategy and tactics. Different foes, different approach for Manny. Against Mosley who can match Manny?s hand speed in spurts, Roach would probably use Manny?s primary weapon ? footwork.
Mosley will soon find out that as quick as Mayweather was against him, Pacquiao is a different animal.
Manny darts in with a blinding speed which carries with it the ?baddest? of intentions.
He will stalk Mosley and wear him down until the American loses his will to win. And Manny is the best in the sports in breaking up his opponent?s will. And he is also the best when it comes to finishing his foe ? with the exception perhaps of close-eyed Margarito who he carried to the finishing line out of compassion.
Shane can only hope that he will have plenty enough to match Erik?s grit.
Well, anybody can hope. Just hope.
