Shane Mosley is a huge underdog for the third time in two years Saturday as he faces Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez in a 154-pound bout. It?s an attractive match rather unfairly obscured as the sub-main on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Miguel Cotto pay-per-view extravaganza in Las Vegas.
Canelo (39-0, 29 knockouts), the 21-year-old great red hope from Guadalajara, is expected to successfully defend his WBC light-middleweight title by exercising his impressive power to overwhelm his slightly smaller, considerably older opponent. The prevailing odds are about 7-1.
Mosley (46-7-1, 39 knockouts) is 40 and ought to retire. He should have retired after stopping Ricardo Mayorga in 2008 (what I wrote then) and after stopping Antonio Margarito in 2009 (what I wrote then) . He hasn?t developed a suitable older-fighter style like Bernard Hopkins. Mosley fights as he always has, only not as well. It?s not surprising he?s the underdog against Canelo despite his hall of fame-caliber past.
But I like the Californian’s chances of beating Alvarez much better than I liked his chances in what turned out to be lopsided losses to Mayweather (May 2010) and Manny Pacquiao (May 2011).
In fact, I like Mosley to administer an old-fashioned boxing lesson Saturday. Some analysts are saying promoters? investments in Alvarez?s future would preclude his losing the decision in a close fight, but I think this will be a no-doubter.
Until he fought Cotto in 2007, Mosley had faced few if any opponents who could match his speed. Those who are claiming Alvarez will beat Mosley to the punch are severely underestimating the superiority of both Mayweather and Pacquiao in that category and the degree to which that made Mosley look worse than he is.
I?m not seeing that in Alvarez. He?s a devastating puncher who is an astute boxer for his age. He is not inexperienced, and he?ll bruise Mosley some even if the veteran does outslick him.
But make no mistake: Mosley will be the slicker boxer, and it will matter. Mosley by clear-cut decision.
And then let?s hope ?Sugar Shane? decides to go out on top while he still has the chance.
2008 LAMENT STILL APPLIES: I wrote: Boxing must be the only sport in which retiring before the inevitable decline sets in is desirable, and Mosley isn?t the only current great who should be planning an exit strategy. Muhammad Ali should have quit after the Thrilla in Manila. Etcetera, etcetera. Too many stay in it too long, and that probably means you, Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver, as you go up against Joe Calzaghe, Kelly Pavlik and Chad Dawson. If you lose, please exit while you?re still intact. Evander Holyfield? Sigh. ? SF Boxing Examiner, Sept. 25, 2008
