It?s not that Mundine lacks credibility, although that can be argued. It?s that 42-year-old Mosley is playing with fire?
?When you quit the ring, if you?re a big success, you?re only a few thousand dollars in debt and only a little brain-damaged.??Art Aragon
Everyone is free to pursue their dreams, but how many dreams are we entitled to pursue?
After witnessing numerous savage beatings, we decided to cease publicizing Shane Mosley?s fights. It?s not for his benefit. Shane could care less. It?s for our benefit. There are enough sleepless nights as it is.
Mosley?s next ring adventure, which was scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, against Anthony Mundine at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia, might have been big news in Oz. But here in the States, many of us cringe at the thought that Sugar Shane is still fighting.
It?s not that Mundine lacks credibility, although that can be argued. It?s that 42-year-old Mosley is playing with fire, and those who play with fire get burned.
As luck would have it, promoter Vlad Warton reportedly ignored his contractual agreement and the fight with Mundine is off. Mosley was promised $1 million, given a $300,000 advance, and wanted the remainder of what was owed him when he arrived in Sydney.
Warton balked, and Sugar Shane split.
?I?m very disappointed with this turn of events,? Shane said, ?because I was planning on making a big statement by beating Mundine, but I was left with no choice but to withdraw. The fans in Australia have welcomed me with open arms, and I hope to return to fight for them one day in better circumstances.?
?It?s unfortunate that this fight will not be taking place,? said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, ?and we apologize to all of Shane?s Australian fans, but there are contracts in place for a reason, and when the terms are not adhered to, we have no choice but to protect our fighter, and that?s what happened here.?
Protecting a fighter financially is one thing, protecting him from himself quite another.
Maybe Mosley will return to Australia to fight another day; but then again, maybe not.
At least we can hope. At least we can dream.
