LAS VEGAS - "Sugar" Shane Mosley will have a lot more to worry about than just the hand speed of Floyd Mayweather Jr. when the two square off tonight in the welterweight main event at MGM Grand.
Mayweather's uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, appropriately pointed that out the other day when a reporter asked him if Mosley might be the fastest fighter his nephew has ever faced.
"People don't even understand about boxing," Roger Mayweather said. "One of the fastest guys in the history of the sport of boxing was a 1976 Olympic gold medalist. It was Howard Davis Jr. He had tremendous speed, but he never won a championship, and he fought guys that were much slower than him.
"It's not about speed that wins fights. Skill wins fights. And he (Floyd Jr.) is the most skilled fighter in the sport of boxing, period, hands down."
Not an easy point to argue. Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) is probably the most difficult fighter on which to land a clean punch and the way he avoids punches even when he's not moving is simply amazing.
Mosley might be the fastest Mayweather has seen. But he is not as clever and if Mosley gets frustrated by not being able to land his array of power shots, it could be a long night for the Pomona native.
Even assuming the speed is the same, Mayweather said they are nevertheless completely different.
"I think he's a fighter who always worries about landing one big shot," Mayweather said. "He's worried about
who is extremely strong and I worry about being smart and winning, so we approach fighting in two totally different ways."
Class was in.
"I mean, Shane may be loading up with wide shots and kind of using not really a fuller jab and I use a fuller jab," said Mayweather, 33. "You know when I shoot my shots, I look at my opponents and I look where I'm punching.
"When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes, if you go back and look at some of Shane's fights."
The way Mayweather fights, the general thinking is that Mosley will have to cut off the ring. That makes sense, especially if Mosley can get Mayweather in a corner and hit him in the body.
But Naazim Richardson, Mosley's trainer, scoffed when it was suggested Mosley will need to deploy that strategy.
"I haven't read the passage that it's necessary for us to have to cut the ring off," Richardson said. "Nobody's gotten that documentation to me yet, so the game plan I have is that I'm bringing `Sugar' Shane Mosley to the table.
"I'm not bringing those other 40 guys that he (Mayweather) fought. I'm bringing another decorated, documented legend to the table."
Perhaps therein lies the key to victory for Mosley. Yes, Mayweather is undefeated, but Mosley has had a rather terrific career as well. He has won world titles in three weight classes while compiling a record of 46-5 with 39 knockouts.
There are plenty of experts out there who think Mosley has a solid chance to win, that Mosley's combination of talent and mettle makes the perfect recipe for victory.
Mosley certainly thinks so.
"Floyd is a great fighter and there are a lot of different things he can bring to the ring," Mosley said. "But there are a lot of things I bring as well."
Like quickness.
"I think he has good hand speed, but I think my hand speed is good, too," Mosley said. "I don't know if I'm going to be faster or slower, I have to get in the ring and see. I believe I'm faster."
And more vicious, said Mosley, whose title will not be on the line for Mayweather to win because Mayweather said titles don't mean anything to him these days (he probably didn't want to pay the sanctioning fees, either).
"People should be picking me because I have proven that I can knock people out in any round," said Mosley, 38. "I'm experienced and I have the speed, power and agility to win this fight."
He plans on letting it all hang out, too.
"I'm going to do everything," Mosley said. "I'm going to attack, I'm going to box a little. I'm going to do it all."
Apparently, the oddsmakers aren't convinced, Mayweather being a 4-to-1 favorite.
Part of that could be Mosley's age combined with Mayweather's uncanny defensive ability. Mosley also hasn't fought in 16 months.
But Mosley is not just any 38-year-old, and he cautions those who think he can't be the one to hand Mayweather his first loss.
"A victory over Floyd Mayweather would definitely rank in my top victories," said Mosley, like Mayweather, a certain Hall of Famer.
"It would let people know that once again they overlooked Sugar Shane Mosley and that was a mistake."
Here's something to consider. Sugar Ray Leonard, one of the all-time greats, is in town and he had this take on the fight:
"I have yet to see him (Mayweather) hurt, knocked down or whatever," Leonard said. "On the other hand, I see `Sugar' Shane Mosley as a guy who could penetrate his impeccable defense. I had a premonition the other night and I saw a knockout by someone. I am not a guru, I am not a psychic, but I did see a knockout."
Mosley tipped the scales at the 147-pound limit at Friday's weigh-in. Mayweather weighed 146. Not including pay-per-view upside, Mayweather has a guarantee of $22.5 million. Mosley's is $7 million.
Source: sbsun.com
Showing posts with label floyd mayweather vs shane mosley updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label floyd mayweather vs shane mosley updates. Show all posts
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Will Mayweather Ever Have To Pay The Price For Boxing Immortality?
Whether they like it or not (and who would?) greatness for a prize fighter comes only with the display of a high pain threshold. It is a sad requirement of the sport, a demand put on boxers to define themselves not simply by their most triumphant moments but by overcoming their most difficult ones.
Would the story be the same for Ali if there had never been a Joe Frazier to knock him to the floor and challenge him at every turn? Would Sugar Ray Robinson be so sweet without Jake LaMotta, Carmen Basilio, Max Schmeling and even Randy Turpin tormenting him?
Leonard and Hagler needed Thomas Hearns as much to test their mettle as to prove their greatness. It is a truism of boxing going back that goes back to the days of bare knuckle brawling. Even though these days one can gain world rankings and even world titles without facing so much as one true challenge, the price of boxing immortality is higher for it demands a hard night or two when all seems lost and still you triumph.
That is what is missing from Roy Jones’ resume (judging by the poor performance of his chin when finally tested one can understand why he avoided such challenges for so long) and from Mike Tyson’s. Neither got off the floor to win, at least not when deposited there in the kind of crushing way that leaves the sound of wind chimes in their head long after they are again upright.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. seems to have no interest in facing such a moment and one can understand why yet he needs such a night to validate not his boxing talent, which is obvious, but to test him in the hot cauldron of adversity.
Mayweather may finally face such a test Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena when he steps into the ring against four-time world champion Shane Mosley but he wants no part of such a test. In fact, he mocks the very idea of it and why wouldn’t he?
As Mayweather’s trainer and uncle, the former champion Roger Mayweather, said recently when asked about his nephew’s apparent distaste for being hit, “I don’t know anybody that likes to get hit.’’
It’s a good point but the difficult fact when it comes to assessing Mayweather is that we have yet to see him face the kind of adversity Leonard did in his first bout with Hearns or the type of hellish, soul-searching moments Ali encountered when in the ring with Joe Frazier.
In boxing, fair or unfair, that is when we decide who and what a fighter really is. This is not to promise Mosley will be able to take Mayweather to such a dark and difficult place but it is where he needs to go to win over the remaining doubters and skeptics who insist he is still untested even after winning 40 straight fights and world titles from 130 pounds to 154 pounds.
Yet in Mayweather’s opinion that whole concept is borderline insanity. Why must a fighter struggle to prove his greatness? Why isn’t dominance enough?
“I take less punishment, I land the highest percentage and I work the hardest,’’ he said of himself recently not long before insisting he not only compared favorably to Ali and Ray Robinson but was better than both, a position that has been hotly debated ever since.
“My father taught me defense and no one can break through it. I just know if a punch is coming. I can feel it. I know what my opponent is going to do.’’
Perhaps he does for those are the instincts that separate good boxers from great ones. But what happens to him on the night he doesn’t know? What happens on the night he takes more punishment, not less?
Can he still find a way to win then, when he is wounded and vulnerable in the way Leonard appeared to be in his first fight with Hearns or the way Ali was against Frazier? Frankly, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would rather not find out.
“Shane is a solid welterweight with great accomplishments but I have been fighting these kinds of fighters my whole career without much appreciation,’’ Mayweather said. “Shane has talent. I have a God-given gift. No one gives me credit for who I’ve fought during my career because I can make anybody look like a nobody.
“Shane’s done some things in this sport but I’ve done a lot of things in this sport. I’ve done a lot of things that a lot of fighters weren’t able to do and didn’t do.
“I don’t rate myself. I’m a harsh critic of myself so no matter how I go I always say to myself I could have done better. When I fought (Diego) Corrales I said I could have done better. When I fought (Arturo) Gatti I said I could have done better. My main thing is I don’t worry about it.’’
He doesn’t worry about the need for a bloody night of triumph either. If Mayweather leaves the MGM early Sunday morning looking like he’s been there for a night of blackjack rather than as if he’d been hit by a blackjack it’s no bother to him because, the way he sees it, bruises are not the definition of greatness in boxing.
“I don’t get paid to get hit,’’ Mayweather insisted. “I wasn’t taught to get hit. I was taught how to hit and not get hit. That’s what I’m about. I don’t need my nose all over my face to prove I’m a great fighter. When I get in the ring I’m trying to get that boy off my ass.
“I love the fans but I fight for me first because the truth is you’re just an object. Once they’re done with you, it’s over so it doesn’t matter to me what other people say.
“There’s nothing cool about taking punishment. What’s cool is dishing it out so when your career is over you still have all your senses. When my career is over fans will appreciate my skills and my boxing ability. I know who Floyd Mayweather is. I’m a great fighter…a great fighter.’’
Maybe so great that he won’t ever need to overcome great difficulties and difficult nights to prove it but, boxing being boxing, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Would the story be the same for Ali if there had never been a Joe Frazier to knock him to the floor and challenge him at every turn? Would Sugar Ray Robinson be so sweet without Jake LaMotta, Carmen Basilio, Max Schmeling and even Randy Turpin tormenting him?
Leonard and Hagler needed Thomas Hearns as much to test their mettle as to prove their greatness. It is a truism of boxing going back that goes back to the days of bare knuckle brawling. Even though these days one can gain world rankings and even world titles without facing so much as one true challenge, the price of boxing immortality is higher for it demands a hard night or two when all seems lost and still you triumph.
That is what is missing from Roy Jones’ resume (judging by the poor performance of his chin when finally tested one can understand why he avoided such challenges for so long) and from Mike Tyson’s. Neither got off the floor to win, at least not when deposited there in the kind of crushing way that leaves the sound of wind chimes in their head long after they are again upright.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. seems to have no interest in facing such a moment and one can understand why yet he needs such a night to validate not his boxing talent, which is obvious, but to test him in the hot cauldron of adversity.
Mayweather may finally face such a test Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena when he steps into the ring against four-time world champion Shane Mosley but he wants no part of such a test. In fact, he mocks the very idea of it and why wouldn’t he?
As Mayweather’s trainer and uncle, the former champion Roger Mayweather, said recently when asked about his nephew’s apparent distaste for being hit, “I don’t know anybody that likes to get hit.’’
It’s a good point but the difficult fact when it comes to assessing Mayweather is that we have yet to see him face the kind of adversity Leonard did in his first bout with Hearns or the type of hellish, soul-searching moments Ali encountered when in the ring with Joe Frazier.
In boxing, fair or unfair, that is when we decide who and what a fighter really is. This is not to promise Mosley will be able to take Mayweather to such a dark and difficult place but it is where he needs to go to win over the remaining doubters and skeptics who insist he is still untested even after winning 40 straight fights and world titles from 130 pounds to 154 pounds.
Yet in Mayweather’s opinion that whole concept is borderline insanity. Why must a fighter struggle to prove his greatness? Why isn’t dominance enough?
“I take less punishment, I land the highest percentage and I work the hardest,’’ he said of himself recently not long before insisting he not only compared favorably to Ali and Ray Robinson but was better than both, a position that has been hotly debated ever since.
“My father taught me defense and no one can break through it. I just know if a punch is coming. I can feel it. I know what my opponent is going to do.’’
Perhaps he does for those are the instincts that separate good boxers from great ones. But what happens to him on the night he doesn’t know? What happens on the night he takes more punishment, not less?
Can he still find a way to win then, when he is wounded and vulnerable in the way Leonard appeared to be in his first fight with Hearns or the way Ali was against Frazier? Frankly, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would rather not find out.
“Shane is a solid welterweight with great accomplishments but I have been fighting these kinds of fighters my whole career without much appreciation,’’ Mayweather said. “Shane has talent. I have a God-given gift. No one gives me credit for who I’ve fought during my career because I can make anybody look like a nobody.
“Shane’s done some things in this sport but I’ve done a lot of things in this sport. I’ve done a lot of things that a lot of fighters weren’t able to do and didn’t do.
“I don’t rate myself. I’m a harsh critic of myself so no matter how I go I always say to myself I could have done better. When I fought (Diego) Corrales I said I could have done better. When I fought (Arturo) Gatti I said I could have done better. My main thing is I don’t worry about it.’’
He doesn’t worry about the need for a bloody night of triumph either. If Mayweather leaves the MGM early Sunday morning looking like he’s been there for a night of blackjack rather than as if he’d been hit by a blackjack it’s no bother to him because, the way he sees it, bruises are not the definition of greatness in boxing.
“I don’t get paid to get hit,’’ Mayweather insisted. “I wasn’t taught to get hit. I was taught how to hit and not get hit. That’s what I’m about. I don’t need my nose all over my face to prove I’m a great fighter. When I get in the ring I’m trying to get that boy off my ass.
“I love the fans but I fight for me first because the truth is you’re just an object. Once they’re done with you, it’s over so it doesn’t matter to me what other people say.
“There’s nothing cool about taking punishment. What’s cool is dishing it out so when your career is over you still have all your senses. When my career is over fans will appreciate my skills and my boxing ability. I know who Floyd Mayweather is. I’m a great fighter…a great fighter.’’
Maybe so great that he won’t ever need to overcome great difficulties and difficult nights to prove it but, boxing being boxing, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Mayweather, Mosley weigh in
From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for tomorrow night’s “Mayweather vs. Mosley: Who R U Picking?” megafight on PPV, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions:
Shane Mosley 147 vs Floyd Mayweather 146
Saul Alvarez 150 vs JM Cotto 149
Daniel Ponce de Leon 125 vs Cornelius Lock 125
Said Ouali 146 vs. Hector Saldivia 147.5
Arturo Morua 141 vs. Jessie Vargas 142
Gilberto Sanchez Leon 130 vs. Eloy Perez 129
Dion Savage 168 vs. Tommie Speller 166
Luis Ramos 136 vs. Allen Litzau 138*
* Contract was 135.
Daniel Reece 136 vs. Angel Soto 137
Source: fightnews.com
Friday, April 9, 2010
Mayweather and Mosley's dads speak up
MANILA, Philippines – The fathers of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Shane Mosley stood up for their sons with less than a month until their “Who R U Picking?” main event on May 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mayweather and Mosley used to be trained by their trainers, Floyd Sr. and Jack, respectively.
Floyd Jr. is being trained by his father’s brother, Roger, while Shane’s trainer is Naazim Richardson.
“Shane and I have both been in the sport a long time and have tremendous backgrounds coming from boxing families. When you take the two and put them together you get a very exciting fight,” Floyd Jr. commented in a FightFan.com article by Ace Freeman.
It was natural for the fathers to root for their sons in the upcoming fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
But Floyd Sr. countered Jack’s prediction that Shane would win.
“First off, I heard these crazy things from Jack about what Shane is going to do. Shane is going to get his ass whooped. This is what's going to happen because little Floyd is faster than Shane, much faster, much slicker, more clever, smarter and he has so many things that he can do,” Floyd Sr. said in articles posted on BoxingScene.com and FightHype.com.
Despite writing Shane off, Floyd Sr. said that the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super champion is a tougher opponent for the undefeated Floyd Jr. than 7-division world champion and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
“On the real, I think Shane would be the tougher fight. Shane would be the tougher fight because of certain reasons, so figure it out. Shane would be a much tougher fight than that ‘whatever’ over there that fights like a machine,” added Floyd Sr.
Pacquiao was supposed to be Mayweather’s opponent last March. Their fight did not push through because of their disagreement on the drug testing protocol.
The Filipino boxing icon even sued Floyd Jr., Floyd Sr., Roger Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar de la Hoya and Richard Schaefer for alleging that he was taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Shane's power-boxing
Jack, on the other hand, said that Shane will get the better of the undefeated Floyd Jr. with his immense power and notable speed. He said his son “hits like a heavyweight” and is “fast enough to hit Floyd over and over and over again.” (Click here)
He continued: “Shane is a boxer-puncher. I call it power-boxing. I'm thinking that when you're boxing a guy who may be defensive in all of his other fights, he may not be as defensive against a guy of Shane's talent. In that respect, I think Shane will be too much for Floyd to handle. He's too powerful.”
Shane was slated to face Andre Berto last January but the latter pulled out because his family was affected by the Haiti earthquake.
Moreover, Jack revealed that Team Mosley already had a fight strategy against Floyd Jr. 10 years ago.
“We've had strategies to fight Floyd, since Floyd's been boxing... so if we ever had the chance to fight him - we already knew how to fight Floyd, and beat him. It won't be a surprise to me when Shane beats him. We already studied him over and over and I'm sure Floyd studied Shane over and over,” noted Jack. – With reports from FightHype.com and BoxingScene.com
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Mayweather and Mosley used to be trained by their trainers, Floyd Sr. and Jack, respectively.
Floyd Jr. is being trained by his father’s brother, Roger, while Shane’s trainer is Naazim Richardson.
“Shane and I have both been in the sport a long time and have tremendous backgrounds coming from boxing families. When you take the two and put them together you get a very exciting fight,” Floyd Jr. commented in a FightFan.com article by Ace Freeman.
It was natural for the fathers to root for their sons in the upcoming fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
But Floyd Sr. countered Jack’s prediction that Shane would win.
“First off, I heard these crazy things from Jack about what Shane is going to do. Shane is going to get his ass whooped. This is what's going to happen because little Floyd is faster than Shane, much faster, much slicker, more clever, smarter and he has so many things that he can do,” Floyd Sr. said in articles posted on BoxingScene.com and FightHype.com.
Despite writing Shane off, Floyd Sr. said that the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super champion is a tougher opponent for the undefeated Floyd Jr. than 7-division world champion and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
“On the real, I think Shane would be the tougher fight. Shane would be the tougher fight because of certain reasons, so figure it out. Shane would be a much tougher fight than that ‘whatever’ over there that fights like a machine,” added Floyd Sr.
Pacquiao was supposed to be Mayweather’s opponent last March. Their fight did not push through because of their disagreement on the drug testing protocol.
The Filipino boxing icon even sued Floyd Jr., Floyd Sr., Roger Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar de la Hoya and Richard Schaefer for alleging that he was taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Shane's power-boxing
Jack, on the other hand, said that Shane will get the better of the undefeated Floyd Jr. with his immense power and notable speed. He said his son “hits like a heavyweight” and is “fast enough to hit Floyd over and over and over again.” (Click here)
He continued: “Shane is a boxer-puncher. I call it power-boxing. I'm thinking that when you're boxing a guy who may be defensive in all of his other fights, he may not be as defensive against a guy of Shane's talent. In that respect, I think Shane will be too much for Floyd to handle. He's too powerful.”
Shane was slated to face Andre Berto last January but the latter pulled out because his family was affected by the Haiti earthquake.
Moreover, Jack revealed that Team Mosley already had a fight strategy against Floyd Jr. 10 years ago.
“We've had strategies to fight Floyd, since Floyd's been boxing... so if we ever had the chance to fight him - we already knew how to fight Floyd, and beat him. It won't be a surprise to me when Shane beats him. We already studied him over and over and I'm sure Floyd studied Shane over and over,” noted Jack. – With reports from FightHype.com and BoxingScene.com
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Mayweather vs. Mosley: Is this as good as it gets for Floyd?
By Jason Kim: For Floyd Mayweather Jr. his fight against Shane Mosley next month on May 1st might just well be the pinnacle of his career. It’s sad to say, but I think this could be the final really large mega fight of Mayweather’s career. He’s not likely to face Manny Pacquiao in the near future or every because of Mayweather’s demands that Pacquiao take the Olympic style random blood tests, which Pacquiao is totally against and not likely to give into to satisfy Mayweather.
Without a fight against Pacquiao taking place, there really isn’t anyone else with a big enough name to make a huge fight with Mayweather. Heck, it took Mayweather 14 years of his career before he finally faced Mosley. Mayweather probably won’t be taking on any other dangerous fighter like Mosley for the remainder of his career. There really isn’t any big names in the welterweight other than Mayweather, Mosley and Pacquiao.
Andre Berto, the WBC welterweight champion, isn’t hugely popular and has looked flawed vulnerable since capturing the WBC title. It’s doubtful that Berto will rise up become a mega star in the future, and he’ll likely get beaten in his next bout with Carlos Quintana anyway. It’s too bad that the Mosley fight could be the last huge fight of Mayweather’s career.
At 33, Mayweather is starting to look noticeably older, and you can imagine he’s probably going to start slowing down in the next couple of years. Usually, fighters start to show signs of deterioration of their reflexes by the time they hit 35. Mosley, 38, is kind of a different case in that he wasn’t just blinding fast, but also a very tough fighter who didn’t mind going to war with his opponents.
Mosley has had that part of his game to fall back on as he’s started to lose some of his hand speed in the past few years. Mayweather may not have that advantage when he reaches 35, if he’s still fighting by then. I expect Mayweather’s hand speed and youth to be the deciding factor in his fight with Mosley, but it’s not going to be easy because Mosley is going to take the fight to him and make Mayweather work hard to get the win.
I wish I could say that Mayweather will give in about the drug testing and seek out a fight with Pacquiao in the future, but I don’t see that happening. I expect Mayweather to stick to his demands about the drug testing. The Mosley fight then could be the zenith of Mayweather’s career. From here, I expect everything to go downhill for Floyd with him going back to taking on smaller fighters like he’s been doing the past couple of years.
I hope Mayweather doesn’t back to hand picking opponents from the lower weight classes, but that’s what I see happening. And if Pacquiao retires, there won’t be any pressure put on Mayweather for him to take on the best fighters. We could then be seeing Mayweather extend his career in one mismatch after another in dull fighters.
Source: boxingnews24.com
Without a fight against Pacquiao taking place, there really isn’t anyone else with a big enough name to make a huge fight with Mayweather. Heck, it took Mayweather 14 years of his career before he finally faced Mosley. Mayweather probably won’t be taking on any other dangerous fighter like Mosley for the remainder of his career. There really isn’t any big names in the welterweight other than Mayweather, Mosley and Pacquiao.
Andre Berto, the WBC welterweight champion, isn’t hugely popular and has looked flawed vulnerable since capturing the WBC title. It’s doubtful that Berto will rise up become a mega star in the future, and he’ll likely get beaten in his next bout with Carlos Quintana anyway. It’s too bad that the Mosley fight could be the last huge fight of Mayweather’s career.
At 33, Mayweather is starting to look noticeably older, and you can imagine he’s probably going to start slowing down in the next couple of years. Usually, fighters start to show signs of deterioration of their reflexes by the time they hit 35. Mosley, 38, is kind of a different case in that he wasn’t just blinding fast, but also a very tough fighter who didn’t mind going to war with his opponents.
Mosley has had that part of his game to fall back on as he’s started to lose some of his hand speed in the past few years. Mayweather may not have that advantage when he reaches 35, if he’s still fighting by then. I expect Mayweather’s hand speed and youth to be the deciding factor in his fight with Mosley, but it’s not going to be easy because Mosley is going to take the fight to him and make Mayweather work hard to get the win.
I wish I could say that Mayweather will give in about the drug testing and seek out a fight with Pacquiao in the future, but I don’t see that happening. I expect Mayweather to stick to his demands about the drug testing. The Mosley fight then could be the zenith of Mayweather’s career. From here, I expect everything to go downhill for Floyd with him going back to taking on smaller fighters like he’s been doing the past couple of years.
I hope Mayweather doesn’t back to hand picking opponents from the lower weight classes, but that’s what I see happening. And if Pacquiao retires, there won’t be any pressure put on Mayweather for him to take on the best fighters. We could then be seeing Mayweather extend his career in one mismatch after another in dull fighters.
Source: boxingnews24.com
Pacquiao picks Mosley, Roach chooses Mayweather
MANILA, Philippines – American trainer Freddie Roach and his prized fighter, Filipino 7-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, failed to agree on who they think will win on May 1 when “Sugar” Shane Mosley takes on Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr.
According to Joaquin Henson of The Philippine Star, Roach predicted that Mayweather (40-0, with 25 KOs) will remain undefeated as he will beat Mosley by decision.
“Shane’s my friend and I hope he wins but he has trouble with speed and movement and likes guys to come to him so it’s going to be difficult,” Roach said in a guest column on London’s Boxing News as quoted in The Philippine Star article.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, has been saying that Mosley would prevail over Mayweather.
“I’m for Shane Mosley,” the pound-for-pound king said in an article by Abac Cordero of The Philippine Star.
“He must do the right preparation. If he does, then he has a very good chance against Mayweather,” he said of the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight champion who has 46 wins (with 39 KOs), 5 losses and 1 no contest.
FightFan.com earlier reported that Pacquiao said on the Krystal Hart Show that he thinks Mosley will win.
“I think Mayweather vs. Mosley will be a good fight,” he said ahead of his March 13 bout against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey.
Pacquiao, who was originally slated to fight the undefeated Mayweather, defeated Clottey via unanimous decision at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. He retained his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt.
Mosley, for his part, vowed to crush Mayweather, adding that their fight will be better than the lopsided Pacquiao-Clottey clash.
'The better Mayweather'
Negotiations for the Pacquiao vs Mayweather blockbuster match crumbled after the former refused to give in to the latter’s demand for Olympic-style blood testing.
Pacquiao even filed a defamation complaint against Mayweather, his father Floyd Sr., uncle Roger, and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar dela Hoya and Richard Schaefer after they alleged that he was taking performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Roach reacted, “I get upset that some people can’t accept that Manny’s just a great fighter.”
The American trainer, for his part, said that Floyd Jr. has been respectful of him: “I like Floyd as a person ...out of the Mayweathers, he’s one of the better ones.”
But he noted that he will not allow Floyd Jr. to dictate his terms for the fight.
“I let him use my gym when he was doing ‘Dancing With The Stars’ before the Ricky Hatton fight and I’ve known him since he was a little kid. He’s not a bad guy. But the only way the fight with Manny is going to happen is we go by the commission drug-testing rules,” said Roach.
He also wished for “Pretty Boy Floyd” to stop making his own demands because “Floyd doesn’t realize that he’s killing his own sport.”
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
According to Joaquin Henson of The Philippine Star, Roach predicted that Mayweather (40-0, with 25 KOs) will remain undefeated as he will beat Mosley by decision.
“Shane’s my friend and I hope he wins but he has trouble with speed and movement and likes guys to come to him so it’s going to be difficult,” Roach said in a guest column on London’s Boxing News as quoted in The Philippine Star article.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, has been saying that Mosley would prevail over Mayweather.
“I’m for Shane Mosley,” the pound-for-pound king said in an article by Abac Cordero of The Philippine Star.
“He must do the right preparation. If he does, then he has a very good chance against Mayweather,” he said of the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight champion who has 46 wins (with 39 KOs), 5 losses and 1 no contest.
FightFan.com earlier reported that Pacquiao said on the Krystal Hart Show that he thinks Mosley will win.
“I think Mayweather vs. Mosley will be a good fight,” he said ahead of his March 13 bout against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey.
Pacquiao, who was originally slated to fight the undefeated Mayweather, defeated Clottey via unanimous decision at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. He retained his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt.
Mosley, for his part, vowed to crush Mayweather, adding that their fight will be better than the lopsided Pacquiao-Clottey clash.
'The better Mayweather'
Negotiations for the Pacquiao vs Mayweather blockbuster match crumbled after the former refused to give in to the latter’s demand for Olympic-style blood testing.
Pacquiao even filed a defamation complaint against Mayweather, his father Floyd Sr., uncle Roger, and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar dela Hoya and Richard Schaefer after they alleged that he was taking performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Roach reacted, “I get upset that some people can’t accept that Manny’s just a great fighter.”
The American trainer, for his part, said that Floyd Jr. has been respectful of him: “I like Floyd as a person ...out of the Mayweathers, he’s one of the better ones.”
But he noted that he will not allow Floyd Jr. to dictate his terms for the fight.
“I let him use my gym when he was doing ‘Dancing With The Stars’ before the Ricky Hatton fight and I’ve known him since he was a little kid. He’s not a bad guy. But the only way the fight with Manny is going to happen is we go by the commission drug-testing rules,” said Roach.
He also wished for “Pretty Boy Floyd” to stop making his own demands because “Floyd doesn’t realize that he’s killing his own sport.”
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Pacman sees Mosley win vs Mayweather
MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is rooting for the big underdog in May.
“I’m for Shane Mosley,” said Pacquiao, referring to the reigning WBA welterweight champion who will have his 38-year-old hands full when he faces Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 1 in Las Vegas.
Mosley, who happens to be five years older than Mayweather, is the bigger fighter. He enjoys a one-inch advantage in height (5’9”) and a two-inch advantage in reach (74”), and is a true welterweight.
Mosley has fought at 147 lb, and even as high as 154 lb, 20 times over the last 11 years for an overall ring record of 46 wins (39 knockouts) and five losses, the last one against Miguel Cotto in 2007.
Mayweather is of course the undefeated ex-pound-for-pound champion who came off a nearly two-year retirement to beat Juan Manuel Marquez last September, and is now saying he’s still the best out there.
Mayweather, undefeated in 40 fights, has fought as a welterweight no more than half a dozen times, and defeated Oscar dela Hoya in a light-middleweight contest in May of 2007 to set the all-time pay-per-view record.
For their coming fight at the MGM Grand, Mayweather is the favorite. He’s a minus 340 favorite, meaning one needs to put $340 to win a hundred bucks. Mosley, despite his size, is at plus 260 ($100 wins $260).
There’s a lot at stake in the fight. If Mayweather wins, then all questions, and all roads lead to a super-fight with Pacquiao later this year. If Mosley wins, then he suddenly becomes one of the contenders.
Pacquaio’s promoter, Bob Arum, said there are only three fighters looming as Pacquiao’s next best opponent, and they are Antonio Margarito, who lost to Mosley last year, Juan Manuel Marquez and of course, Mayweather.
But that’s assuming that Mayweather would walk past Mosley.
Still, Pacquiao is putting his money on Mosley, and in a recent interview, he said Mayweather should “handle his business” by beating Mosley in order for him to keep his chance of facing the Filipino icon.
“Otherwise, I may end up facing Mosley,” said Pacquiao.
The 31-year-old Pacquiao, who hasn’t lost a fight since March of 2005, said he likes Mosley’s style against Mayweather, who works harder on defense, and is always happy to win on points.
“Mosley is bigger. And he throws more punches. In boxing, it’s always important to throw more punches,” said Pacquiao, now the reigning pound-for-pound champion and a congressional candidate in the Philippines.
But he said the work’s cut out for Mosley.
“He must do the right preparation. If he does, then he has a very good chance against Mayweather,” he said without elaborating.
What’s known is that Pacquiao is putting his money on Mosley, the big underdog.
Source: philstar.com
Take Your Pick!
Barely a month to go before the welterweight clash between compatriots Sugar Shane Mosley (46-5-0, 39 KOs) and Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (40-0-0, 25 KOs), boxing pundits still don’t have a clear consensus about who has the upper hand in this very intriguing bout. Here, we are going to examine closely the possibilities, as well as the positives and negatives of either fighter. Hopefully after reading this piece, you, my beloved readers could come up with an educated guess as to who will come out victorious.
Let’s start our discussion with the tale of the tape. The undefeated Mayweather is listed at 5’8” with a 72-inch reach. Throughout his entire professional boxing career, the man they call “Pretty Boy”, “Money”, and at times “Chickenjoy” or “Gayweather” has enjoyed the effective reach advantage in all but one of his bouts. Six-division champ “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya was his only opponent who had an effective reach advantage over him. (This topic is comprehensively discussed in one of my previous articles. If you want to dig deeper, you may want to go to this article Mayweather: Untried, Unproven, and Untested at Welterweight! before you continue reading.) “Sugar” Shane Mosley, on the other hand, stands 5’9”, with a 2-inch reach advantage over Mayweather. Judging from the tale of the tape alone, not to mention the fact that Mosley is a relatively far more established welterweight than Mayweather is, then common sense dictates that the 38-year-old fighter out of California should have his hands raised at the end of the bout. But before all you anti-Mayweather fans start rejoicing, take note that the key word there is “alone”. There are still several factors to consider, which we will tackle later on in this piece.
Speed is another important parameter to reflect on. Mosley is known for his incredible hand speed, but his opponent is not bad in this area, either. Conversely, Mayweather is known for his vast foot speed, which is however not among Mosley’s strong points, especially at this point of his boxing career. Both pugs are accurate punchers, but Mayweather’s uncanny ability to elude his opponent, together with a knack for creating angles for his counterpunches, the flamboyant Grand Rapids, Michigan native should have an advantage in this department.
Now, let’s move on to what could very well be the determining factors in this bout – power and durability. Mayweather was a beast at lightweight, knocking opponents out and imposing his will over them. The same, though, cannot be said of him north of the 135-lb weight limit. He has employed more caution rather than taking risks for an explosive finish. We can perhaps blame it on his fragile hand, which explains why he prefers to use gloves with more padding. His chin is rather untested, too. Zab Judah stopped him on his tracks when the former welterweight champ connected with clean shots to the jaw, which apparently hurt him. On the flipside, Mosley has carried his power and durability all the way to the heavier weight divisions. He has faced some of the hardest punching individuals in the sport and has taken a few solid punches as well. He toyed and beat Antonio “Loaded Hands” Margarito from pillar to post. Of course, there’s a very huge difference between fighting someone who is tad slow and constantly charging forward (Margarito) and someone who has cat-quick reflexes and likes to run (Mayweather).
The line separating victory and defeat generally depends on Mosley’s ability to cut the ring and impose his will on his very elusive opponent. Mosley’s jab will also prove to be a crucial factor to keep Mayweather at bay and give him problems unloading his own offensive. Mosley has two choices. He can basically rely on his effective reach advantage and wait for Mayweather to come in, hoping that the judges will grant him the benefit of the doubt if exchanges should ensue… or he can bring the fight to Mayweather and perhaps go for a knockout, not leaving any chances for the judges to take the fight away from him, knowing fully well that these people would certainly want the much anticipated Pacquiao-Mayweather encounter to push through.
The notion of a fixed fight still floats around boxing circles. Reasons cited include the fact that Mosley also has a stake with Golden Boy Promotions, and that a Mayweather victory could salvage the much anticipated battle for the sport’s top dog featuring the current and former pound for pound kings. Nevertheless, there is so much reason not to believe these rumors. If you were in Mosley’s shoes, would you rather lose and let someone else gather the moolah for you, believing that you have a more than decent chance at becoming the first person to get a 1 on Mayweather’s clean slate on May 1? Your guess is as good as mine.
Now that practically all the essential factors have been laid out, who do you think will earn the chance at challenging the sport’s best fighter pound for pound?
Source: socyberty.com
Let’s start our discussion with the tale of the tape. The undefeated Mayweather is listed at 5’8” with a 72-inch reach. Throughout his entire professional boxing career, the man they call “Pretty Boy”, “Money”, and at times “Chickenjoy” or “Gayweather” has enjoyed the effective reach advantage in all but one of his bouts. Six-division champ “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya was his only opponent who had an effective reach advantage over him. (This topic is comprehensively discussed in one of my previous articles. If you want to dig deeper, you may want to go to this article Mayweather: Untried, Unproven, and Untested at Welterweight! before you continue reading.) “Sugar” Shane Mosley, on the other hand, stands 5’9”, with a 2-inch reach advantage over Mayweather. Judging from the tale of the tape alone, not to mention the fact that Mosley is a relatively far more established welterweight than Mayweather is, then common sense dictates that the 38-year-old fighter out of California should have his hands raised at the end of the bout. But before all you anti-Mayweather fans start rejoicing, take note that the key word there is “alone”. There are still several factors to consider, which we will tackle later on in this piece.
Speed is another important parameter to reflect on. Mosley is known for his incredible hand speed, but his opponent is not bad in this area, either. Conversely, Mayweather is known for his vast foot speed, which is however not among Mosley’s strong points, especially at this point of his boxing career. Both pugs are accurate punchers, but Mayweather’s uncanny ability to elude his opponent, together with a knack for creating angles for his counterpunches, the flamboyant Grand Rapids, Michigan native should have an advantage in this department.
Now, let’s move on to what could very well be the determining factors in this bout – power and durability. Mayweather was a beast at lightweight, knocking opponents out and imposing his will over them. The same, though, cannot be said of him north of the 135-lb weight limit. He has employed more caution rather than taking risks for an explosive finish. We can perhaps blame it on his fragile hand, which explains why he prefers to use gloves with more padding. His chin is rather untested, too. Zab Judah stopped him on his tracks when the former welterweight champ connected with clean shots to the jaw, which apparently hurt him. On the flipside, Mosley has carried his power and durability all the way to the heavier weight divisions. He has faced some of the hardest punching individuals in the sport and has taken a few solid punches as well. He toyed and beat Antonio “Loaded Hands” Margarito from pillar to post. Of course, there’s a very huge difference between fighting someone who is tad slow and constantly charging forward (Margarito) and someone who has cat-quick reflexes and likes to run (Mayweather).
The line separating victory and defeat generally depends on Mosley’s ability to cut the ring and impose his will on his very elusive opponent. Mosley’s jab will also prove to be a crucial factor to keep Mayweather at bay and give him problems unloading his own offensive. Mosley has two choices. He can basically rely on his effective reach advantage and wait for Mayweather to come in, hoping that the judges will grant him the benefit of the doubt if exchanges should ensue… or he can bring the fight to Mayweather and perhaps go for a knockout, not leaving any chances for the judges to take the fight away from him, knowing fully well that these people would certainly want the much anticipated Pacquiao-Mayweather encounter to push through.
The notion of a fixed fight still floats around boxing circles. Reasons cited include the fact that Mosley also has a stake with Golden Boy Promotions, and that a Mayweather victory could salvage the much anticipated battle for the sport’s top dog featuring the current and former pound for pound kings. Nevertheless, there is so much reason not to believe these rumors. If you were in Mosley’s shoes, would you rather lose and let someone else gather the moolah for you, believing that you have a more than decent chance at becoming the first person to get a 1 on Mayweather’s clean slate on May 1? Your guess is as good as mine.
Now that practically all the essential factors have been laid out, who do you think will earn the chance at challenging the sport’s best fighter pound for pound?
Source: socyberty.com
FIGHT PREVIEW AND PREDICTION
Preview: The biggest fight of the year thus far takes place on May 1 in Las Vegas, as Floyd Mayweather fights Shane Mosley. It is a rare match between two fighters who have been at or near the top of the pound-for-pound best list for the past decade. They are both still very viable and in great form. Boxing fans eagerly await this fight.
Floyd Mayweather is the favorite, a perk that comes with being undefeated over a career that spans nearly 14 years. The 33-year-old has bad hands, but is generally well preserved, having not been subjected to beatings and hard fights. Some might say this is due to careful matchmaking or perhaps it is just due to Mayweather’s brilliance. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.
Putting the questions surrounding the quality of recent Mayweather opponents aside, he is facing a top guy in this fight and deserves credit. Mosley is coming off a destructive knockout of fearsome Antonio Margarito. Shane looked renewed after some had begun to write him off. He battered Margarito at will, looking as good as ever in the process. Sure he is 39, but he has lived a Spartan lifestyle that allows him to still be a top guy.
Floyd doesn’t have the losses Mosley has, but he might if he fought the same level of competition. Mosley’s resume reads like a who’s-who of boxing over the last 2 decades, highlighted by two wins over a prime Oscar De La Hoya. He lost twice each to Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright and dropped a close one to a then-undefeated Miguel Cotto. His win over Margarito, however, confirmed his stature at the top of the sport is still solid.
Mayweather could grow old overnight. Fighters don’t continue unabated forever. He will have had only fight in 28 months by the time he climbs into the ring on May 1. Mosley hasn’t been too active himself, as this is his first fight since beating Margarito in January of last year. Old pros like these shouldn’t have too much of a problem. Sometimes layoffs are good for aging fighters.
I think Mosley will be Mayweather’s toughest fight in quite a while. Mosley has great speed and can still hit extremely hard. He is probably the puncher in this fight. Mayweather is just so clever in the ring, knowing how to shade the conditions in his favor. He is a master of distance and a defensive whiz. After over a decade at the world-class level, he has yet to be in deep peril. His chin and fighting pride are also strong suits.
Prediction: I see a fast-paced and even encounter over the first half of the fight. Mayweather will be troubled by Mosley’s speed and combinations, while keeping Mosley honest with snappy counters and a strong jab. As the fight wears on, Mayweather will settle into more of a groove and begin to better time Mosley with combinations that will take a little wind out of his sails. I see Mayweather’s ring IQ playing a major role. Mosley, a clever fighter himself, will not be able to adjust late as the fight gets away from him. Mayweather will outbox Mosley to win a clear unanimous decision.
Source: belmont.com
Floyd Mayweather is the favorite, a perk that comes with being undefeated over a career that spans nearly 14 years. The 33-year-old has bad hands, but is generally well preserved, having not been subjected to beatings and hard fights. Some might say this is due to careful matchmaking or perhaps it is just due to Mayweather’s brilliance. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.
Putting the questions surrounding the quality of recent Mayweather opponents aside, he is facing a top guy in this fight and deserves credit. Mosley is coming off a destructive knockout of fearsome Antonio Margarito. Shane looked renewed after some had begun to write him off. He battered Margarito at will, looking as good as ever in the process. Sure he is 39, but he has lived a Spartan lifestyle that allows him to still be a top guy.
Floyd doesn’t have the losses Mosley has, but he might if he fought the same level of competition. Mosley’s resume reads like a who’s-who of boxing over the last 2 decades, highlighted by two wins over a prime Oscar De La Hoya. He lost twice each to Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright and dropped a close one to a then-undefeated Miguel Cotto. His win over Margarito, however, confirmed his stature at the top of the sport is still solid.
Mayweather could grow old overnight. Fighters don’t continue unabated forever. He will have had only fight in 28 months by the time he climbs into the ring on May 1. Mosley hasn’t been too active himself, as this is his first fight since beating Margarito in January of last year. Old pros like these shouldn’t have too much of a problem. Sometimes layoffs are good for aging fighters.
I think Mosley will be Mayweather’s toughest fight in quite a while. Mosley has great speed and can still hit extremely hard. He is probably the puncher in this fight. Mayweather is just so clever in the ring, knowing how to shade the conditions in his favor. He is a master of distance and a defensive whiz. After over a decade at the world-class level, he has yet to be in deep peril. His chin and fighting pride are also strong suits.
Prediction: I see a fast-paced and even encounter over the first half of the fight. Mayweather will be troubled by Mosley’s speed and combinations, while keeping Mosley honest with snappy counters and a strong jab. As the fight wears on, Mayweather will settle into more of a groove and begin to better time Mosley with combinations that will take a little wind out of his sails. I see Mayweather’s ring IQ playing a major role. Mosley, a clever fighter himself, will not be able to adjust late as the fight gets away from him. Mayweather will outbox Mosley to win a clear unanimous decision.
Source: belmont.com
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Who visits Pac-Land Next, Money Mayweather or Sugar Shane?
By Ronald C Charles One of the most anticipated bouts of the year so far is fast approaching, One month from today Floyd Mayweather Jr will meet Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout is intriguing for a number of different reasons, for one a few in the game who’s opinion I respect have actually tipped Mosley to win, I don’t see it myself but hey there would be less to debate if we all picked the same guy. The other interesting factor is Mosley will be the first true welterweight Mayweather has fought since Carlos Baldomir way back in 2006.
Most pundits and fans alike have been harsh to the Grand Rapids born fighter for his insistence on fighting smaller men like Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton, or his fighting an on the slide De La Hoya. The same people fail to recognise Mayweather began his career at 130 pounds (Super Featherweight)
We live in an era where fighters are always on the move, making the transition from one weight to another has become a whole lot easier since the creation of the intermediate divisions. I don’t like it myself but we must stay consistent, to ridicule one you must ridicule all.
I feel the Mosley fight gives the self styled Money Mayweather the perfect platform to display his greatness, however should Mayweather win convincingly I have no doubt some detractors will find an angle to further ridicule his performance. To small, too slow, over the hill, he never had his corn flakes this morning; the truth is the confident outspoken Mayweather will always have his detractors.
When thinking the possible outcome of a fight I don’t put too much stock in either fighter’s last performance, I like to delve a little deeper. Analysing the last 5 fights and searching for the last time either fighter faced someone with a similar style.
Mosley
When looking at Shane two things are blatantly obvious, he is 38-years-old and has been inactive for over a year. As you study his previous performances you will notice he does really well against come forward fighters, the typical Mexican stand and fight style like that of Fernando Vargas (who Mosley stopped twice) or a Ricardo Mayorga who Mosley knocked out when the two met in 2008.
Then you analyse the two fights Mosley lost in 2004 to Ronald Wright, Winkey was a defensive fighter, a ring technician who put head before his fists. A style a younger Mosley could not cope with and lost the first bout by a wide margin, the second by majority decision.
Mayweather is another level altogether whose modus operandi is defensive mastery, so if a younger, fresher and faster Shane could not figure out the Wright riddle, I give him no chance of figuring out the most gifted defensive fighter of this generation in Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Shane has proved in the past he is a versatile fighter who can both box and move and has certainly faced the better opposition, however at 38 he may have bitten off a little more than he can chew in Mayweather.
Mayweather
When Mayweather returned to the sport in 2009 he faced Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez who at the time was ranked no 2 pound for pound, and the number one lightweight champion of the world. The former “lightweight” was the problem for most. Before Floyd’s temporary retirement he was competing in the welterweight division while Marquez had never competed above 135 pounds. A contractual catch weight of 144 pounds was agreed, the day before the fight Mayweather weighed in 2 pounds over and was forced to pay Marquez $600,000, (300,000) per pound.
If we took anything from the fight it was Mayweather came back as good as he left, the speed, reflexes and movement where better than ever as Mayweather boxed his way to a 12 round unanimous decision.
Mayweather usually dominates his opponent and as yet no-one has come close to scripting the blue-print on how to beat the five weight champion. Mexican Jose Luis Castillo came closest when the two met in 2002. Other have said Mayweather’s most troublesome rounds have come against southpaws DeMarcus Corley and Zab Judah, however in both fights Mayweather managed to overcome both en-route to a convincing unanimous decision win.
Most are of the opinion a Mosley vs. Pacquaio fight will be more fan friendly than that of a Mayweather Boxing clinic; and they may be right. But in my opinion the outcome will be more predictable than a Mayweather - Pacquiao fight where I can see a scenario playing out for either man being victorious. Boxing needs a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight, both are atop the pound for pound summit with the boxing world is split down the middle as to who they think will win.
Source: theboxinghistorian.com
Most pundits and fans alike have been harsh to the Grand Rapids born fighter for his insistence on fighting smaller men like Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton, or his fighting an on the slide De La Hoya. The same people fail to recognise Mayweather began his career at 130 pounds (Super Featherweight)
We live in an era where fighters are always on the move, making the transition from one weight to another has become a whole lot easier since the creation of the intermediate divisions. I don’t like it myself but we must stay consistent, to ridicule one you must ridicule all.
I feel the Mosley fight gives the self styled Money Mayweather the perfect platform to display his greatness, however should Mayweather win convincingly I have no doubt some detractors will find an angle to further ridicule his performance. To small, too slow, over the hill, he never had his corn flakes this morning; the truth is the confident outspoken Mayweather will always have his detractors.
When thinking the possible outcome of a fight I don’t put too much stock in either fighter’s last performance, I like to delve a little deeper. Analysing the last 5 fights and searching for the last time either fighter faced someone with a similar style.
Mosley
When looking at Shane two things are blatantly obvious, he is 38-years-old and has been inactive for over a year. As you study his previous performances you will notice he does really well against come forward fighters, the typical Mexican stand and fight style like that of Fernando Vargas (who Mosley stopped twice) or a Ricardo Mayorga who Mosley knocked out when the two met in 2008.
Then you analyse the two fights Mosley lost in 2004 to Ronald Wright, Winkey was a defensive fighter, a ring technician who put head before his fists. A style a younger Mosley could not cope with and lost the first bout by a wide margin, the second by majority decision.
Mayweather is another level altogether whose modus operandi is defensive mastery, so if a younger, fresher and faster Shane could not figure out the Wright riddle, I give him no chance of figuring out the most gifted defensive fighter of this generation in Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Shane has proved in the past he is a versatile fighter who can both box and move and has certainly faced the better opposition, however at 38 he may have bitten off a little more than he can chew in Mayweather.
Mayweather
When Mayweather returned to the sport in 2009 he faced Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez who at the time was ranked no 2 pound for pound, and the number one lightweight champion of the world. The former “lightweight” was the problem for most. Before Floyd’s temporary retirement he was competing in the welterweight division while Marquez had never competed above 135 pounds. A contractual catch weight of 144 pounds was agreed, the day before the fight Mayweather weighed in 2 pounds over and was forced to pay Marquez $600,000, (300,000) per pound.
If we took anything from the fight it was Mayweather came back as good as he left, the speed, reflexes and movement where better than ever as Mayweather boxed his way to a 12 round unanimous decision.
Mayweather usually dominates his opponent and as yet no-one has come close to scripting the blue-print on how to beat the five weight champion. Mexican Jose Luis Castillo came closest when the two met in 2002. Other have said Mayweather’s most troublesome rounds have come against southpaws DeMarcus Corley and Zab Judah, however in both fights Mayweather managed to overcome both en-route to a convincing unanimous decision win.
Most are of the opinion a Mosley vs. Pacquaio fight will be more fan friendly than that of a Mayweather Boxing clinic; and they may be right. But in my opinion the outcome will be more predictable than a Mayweather - Pacquiao fight where I can see a scenario playing out for either man being victorious. Boxing needs a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight, both are atop the pound for pound summit with the boxing world is split down the middle as to who they think will win.
Source: theboxinghistorian.com
FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS SHANE MOSLEY LATEST ODDS AND FREE TIPS
The Floyd Mayweather vs Shane Mosley fight is just over a month away and the betting action is already starting to get fairly heavy on this fight. Many are predicting another Mayweather roll-over as he seeks to keep his undefeated streak alive. Many of us were bracing ourselves for the Manny Pacuiqo vs Floyd Mayweather superfight before doping allegations and drug-testing controversy derailed the fight. For now.
Unsurprisingly, the odds are heavily-skewed in favour of a Mayweather victory by decision. He is priced extremely short to win the fight outright, with a 1.2 listing, and his odds to win via decision or technical decision are available at a slim 1.44.
If you’re looking for any form of value in this one, you’ve either got to bet on Mosley to win or Mayweather to win via a KO or TKO. There is betting available on the draw or technical draw, but that never really happens at this level and is basically a waste of money.
If you are backing Mayweather to win in a specific round, your shortest odds are coming in rounds 8-10 where you’ll find them priced at 26.0. Mayweather is paying 34.0 to win in any other round but the first round, where he is listed at his highest price with odds of 41.0.
Sugar Shane Mosley is listed at 67.0 to win the fight in any round and a solid 6.0 to beat Mayweather via decision or technical decision.
Blue Square will also be offering up a stellar free bet offer on this bout so be sure to cash that in if you’re looking to have a big bet here.
If you have the utmost confidence in Mayweather, you’ll do well to back him via the decision even though there really isn’t much value there. I think that Mosley’s best chance to cause a massive upset would be a late round KO. I think Mayweather is a strong contender to go the distance, but may have a few kicks at the can with the round betting as the prices are quite solid.
Source: bettingchoice.co.uk
Unsurprisingly, the odds are heavily-skewed in favour of a Mayweather victory by decision. He is priced extremely short to win the fight outright, with a 1.2 listing, and his odds to win via decision or technical decision are available at a slim 1.44.
If you’re looking for any form of value in this one, you’ve either got to bet on Mosley to win or Mayweather to win via a KO or TKO. There is betting available on the draw or technical draw, but that never really happens at this level and is basically a waste of money.
If you are backing Mayweather to win in a specific round, your shortest odds are coming in rounds 8-10 where you’ll find them priced at 26.0. Mayweather is paying 34.0 to win in any other round but the first round, where he is listed at his highest price with odds of 41.0.
Sugar Shane Mosley is listed at 67.0 to win the fight in any round and a solid 6.0 to beat Mayweather via decision or technical decision.
Blue Square will also be offering up a stellar free bet offer on this bout so be sure to cash that in if you’re looking to have a big bet here.
If you have the utmost confidence in Mayweather, you’ll do well to back him via the decision even though there really isn’t much value there. I think that Mosley’s best chance to cause a massive upset would be a late round KO. I think Mayweather is a strong contender to go the distance, but may have a few kicks at the can with the round betting as the prices are quite solid.
Source: bettingchoice.co.uk
Who do boxing fans want to win?
Boxing fans are divided on who is going to win in the upcoming fight between Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley scheduled for May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Most of them though are rooting for the undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
One month before the Mayweather-Mosley fight scheduled on May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, sportswriters are getting mixed signals from boxing fans around the world on who they prefer to win in the highly talked-about boxing event this year.
Feedback or comments from various sports articles show that boxing fans prefer a win by Floyd Mayweather, jr over Shane Mosley. The reason seems to be the boxing fans great anticipation for the resumption of the scuttled fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather.
It may be recalled that the failed match between Mayweather and Pacquiao has generated so much publicity for both boxers and boxing fans want the fight to happen within the year or early next year.
Boxing fans' preference for a Mayweather win over Mosley, seems to point to a number of unfinished issues which they believe should be dealt with sooner than later. These issues range from Mayweather's accusation that Pacquiao was taking steroids or performance enhancing drugs during his previous fights, to the question of who is the real current pound-for-pound king in boxing,
These two major issues remain unresolved to this day and boxing fans say that they should be resolved not in court of law or in questionable popularity ratings but they should be dealt with inside the ring.
On the other hand, a good number of boxing fans and analysts predict that Mosley will defeat Mayweather on May 1. They think that Mosley, being the aggressor on account of his natural offensive stance, will dictate the tempo when they collide inside the ring. Mayweather is known for his mastery of the art of defensive boxing.
Boxing fans want to see a good fight. Many believe that a Pacquiao-Mayweather match is a crowd-drawer. That is why they want to see a Pacquiao-Mayweather match.
At the same time it could also be a boring fight as Freddie Roach has opined. He said that Mayweather, just like Clottey is a defensive fighter and he will be busy inside the ring defending Pacquiao's flurry of punches as the pound-for pound king is known for his speed and punching power.
Source: digitaljournal.com
One month before the Mayweather-Mosley fight scheduled on May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, sportswriters are getting mixed signals from boxing fans around the world on who they prefer to win in the highly talked-about boxing event this year.
Feedback or comments from various sports articles show that boxing fans prefer a win by Floyd Mayweather, jr over Shane Mosley. The reason seems to be the boxing fans great anticipation for the resumption of the scuttled fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather.
It may be recalled that the failed match between Mayweather and Pacquiao has generated so much publicity for both boxers and boxing fans want the fight to happen within the year or early next year.
Boxing fans' preference for a Mayweather win over Mosley, seems to point to a number of unfinished issues which they believe should be dealt with sooner than later. These issues range from Mayweather's accusation that Pacquiao was taking steroids or performance enhancing drugs during his previous fights, to the question of who is the real current pound-for-pound king in boxing,
These two major issues remain unresolved to this day and boxing fans say that they should be resolved not in court of law or in questionable popularity ratings but they should be dealt with inside the ring.
On the other hand, a good number of boxing fans and analysts predict that Mosley will defeat Mayweather on May 1. They think that Mosley, being the aggressor on account of his natural offensive stance, will dictate the tempo when they collide inside the ring. Mayweather is known for his mastery of the art of defensive boxing.
Boxing fans want to see a good fight. Many believe that a Pacquiao-Mayweather match is a crowd-drawer. That is why they want to see a Pacquiao-Mayweather match.
At the same time it could also be a boring fight as Freddie Roach has opined. He said that Mayweather, just like Clottey is a defensive fighter and he will be busy inside the ring defending Pacquiao's flurry of punches as the pound-for pound king is known for his speed and punching power.
Source: digitaljournal.com
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Gearing Up For HBO's Mayweather/Mosley 24/7
We are a little over a week away from HBO's Mayweather/Mosley 24/7. I'm a huge fan of the show, and it deserves all of its accolades and Emmy awards. I was thinking of ways to make the series better, whether it be changing the narrator or altering the length. But I couldn't come up with any necessary changes based on those factors. The lengths of the episodes and series duration are all fine. Narrator, Liev Schreiber, is smooth, and really, just perfect. I haven't seen Schreiber in a film since the totally unnecessary Manchurian Candidate remake, so I don't know how his acting career is going, but he's doing great work with HBO. The show is excellent, but I'm not as stoked as I should be for this next installment. It's Mayweather. I need a new angle on him.
This is Floyd's fourth go around, and I feel like we've covered just about all of the areas. We know about his wealth and love for money. The relationship between he, his father, and his uncle have been beaten to death. Although, if they want to add something new to this topic area, subtitles for Floyd Sr. and Roger would help viewers immensely.
They've shown Floyd's children. Oh yes, the children. Um, where did these children come from? Who did he sire them with? This is the one angle in Mayweather's life that's completely lacking. Who is he banging?
I'm sorry, I know many of you may think I need to Wikipedia him, or look up old issues of US or People, but why should I, when HBO's 24/7 should be touching on this for me. I remember seeing the "significant others" for De La Hoya, Hatton, Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and Cotto, but never Mayweather. Sex and intimacy are a part of a person's life, and I would like to get a look at who the fighter is sharing his time with. Why is this aspect so absent from Floyd's life?
It would be awesome if he was gay.
I'm not making an allegation, so I hope Floyd doesn't find out about this column, and I wind up getting shot at next time I go skating in Vegas. Nor am I making an insult. Those who know me, understand that I'm the most pro-gay/lesbian person you'll find. I'm in favor of homosexual marriage, adoption, right to serve openly in the military–the whole nine. Also, I think it's juvenile and insulting when others try to slur Floyd with terms like "Gayweather" and the such.
I actually think that an openly gay Floyd Mayweather Jr. could do enormous good for the gay cause-more than Ricky Martin for instance. Imagine one of the greatest boxers of the past 20 years, and a first ballot Hall-of-Fame legend, as an openly gay fighter. It would be huge. I know the great Emile Griffith was rumored and understood by many to be gay in the 60's and 70's, but that's not the same at out and proud.
It would be one of the most talked about moments in television history, if one of the 24/7 episodes ended with Mayweather Jr jumping into the arms of some muscle-head for a full on hardcore make-session. People would be dropping their drinks in slow motion, with their mouths agape, all across the world.
Don't start berating me with the "evidence" that Mayweather's children are proof of his heterosexuality. We've all heard of "down-low". Plus, plenty of gay men have had intercourse with women, and have sired children-it means nothing. Again, I have no idea if Pretty Boy Floyd is gay, but if he is, 24/7 would be a great opportunity to kick the closet doors open.
If Floyd is straight, can I at least see a segment or two showing who he's dating, or having "relations" with? Does Floyd date outside of his race? Is he into skinny super models, or full-figured "more to love" types? Does he spend his time with ghetto "chickenheads", or do preppie sophisticated types appeal to Floyd?
Look, every part of Mayweather's life has been turned inside out on 24/7, and it's getting a tad tired. I simply want this one last, unknown, angle placed on display. Any man or woman who shares a special intimate place in Floyd's life is a compelling figure. Floyd has a fascinating personality. Who puts up with him on an intimate basis? I want to know. And so do you.
Mosley on 24/7
I'm so glad that Shane Mosley is going to be featured on 24/7. His career has fascinated me. He's been an elite fighter for almost 15 years in three different weight classes. Mosley has been compared to Sugar Ray Robinson because of his flashy, fighting spirit and hand-speed. Mosley has good looks, and is extremely well spoken-long thought of as one of the nice guys in the sport.
Why hasn't this guy ever become a crossover star?
I've never understood it. I guess the easy answer is that Oscar De La Hoya took on that role during the same era. However, Foreman was a talk-show and commercial staple during the Holyfield era. Mayweather and Pacquiao are both big stars right now. Why didn't Mosley make it big; particularly after his first victory over Oscar?
I hope the 24/7 series delves into this. Sure, Mosley headlined some high grossing pay-per-views, but only with Oscar as the marquee draw. Mosley has never been a humongous draw on his own. I'd like to know his thoughts about this. Mosley's career has had a lot of professional and personal ups and downs, and I'm very anxious to see it all on display-including his partnership with Golden Boy Promotions.
Of course one issue that 24/7 will have to focus on is Mosley's performance-enhancing drug (PED) use. You got to figure that PEDs will be a major aspect of the show because of the unprecedented Olympic-style blood-test program both fighters will be on. Also, the PED issue killed the proposed Pacquio/Mayweather showdown. Mosley is the poster-boy for PED usage in boxing. He doped up prior to his last victory over De La Hoya in 2003.
Mosley–who closely worked with PED manufacturer, BALCO–claims that he didn't know he was taking any banned substances. His claims are dubious and refuted by BALCO representatives. This needs to be touched on, but shouldn't be the focus. To Mosley's credit, he's agreed to Olympic-style blood-testing this time around, to prove that he's not cheating anymore.
Another major issue from Shane's past that needs to be featured, is his relationship with his father. By all accounts they're still close, but Shane Mosley's father was fired from being his son's trainer on two separate occasions. Mosley is currently trained by Nazim Richardson, who not only led Mosley to one of the best performances of his career last January versus Antonio Margarito, but also helped bring about the revelation that Antonio was a cheating glove loader prior to that bout. Nazim Richardson, who is also Bernard Hopkins' trainer, needs to be introduced to the broader sports public on the HBO 24/7 showcase. He deserves the notoriety, and he's a damn good trainer to boot.
It should be quite an interesting series this go around. Mosley v. Mayweather has been a decade in the making. Both have called each other out at various points in the past 10 years, but for some reason or another, the two have never gotten a chance to "get it on". After Pacquiao/Mayweather, this is the "biggest" bout that can be made. HBO always does these episodes well, but I hope that they touch on a few of the issues I've focused on in this column.
In a couple of weeks, I'll breakdown who will win and why. Honestly, I haven't decided yet. Initially, I favored Mosley by knockout, and then due to Mosley's layoff, I tended to favor Mayweather by decision. Now after spending lots of time watching some of both fighters' previous bouts on Youtube, I'm favoring Mosley again. I'll be breaking it all down soon enough. Till next time, enjoy this weekend's fights.
Source: 411mania.com
Mayweather vs Mosley 2010 Fight, Predictions, Tickets and Pacquiao Lawsuit Update
Mayweather vs Mosley 2010 Fight, Predictions, Tickets and Pacquiao Lawsuit Update. Last December, we were all hoping for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. That didn’t transpire, and Pacquiao recently took on Joshua Clottey and Floyd Mayweather, Jr is set to take on Shane Mosley on May 1 in Las Vegas.
The fight between the formerly retired fighter and Mosley is highly anticipated, and if Mayweather does defeat his opponent everyone will be crying that much harder for a fight against Mayweather and Pacquiao.
The Filipino fighter isn’t backing down from his lawsuit threats. There are some rumors floating around saying that if Mayweather drops his blood testing requirements, the Pac Man will drop his lawsuit and fight him. These rumors have been denied by representatives of the fighter, who claim that he has lost millions of dollars in potential endorsements and that his reputation has been irreparably tarnished.
Pro Boxing Fan predicts that Mayweather will win the fight, although Mosley will put on a strong offensive. They predict that the fight will end via unanimous decision instead of a knockout.
Mayweather has a lot on the line – a lot more than Mosley. If Mayweather defeats Mosley, he’s just adding himself to a laundry list of top-knotch fighters that have fallen to Floyd’s tactics. Mayweather has scored wins against some of the biggest names in boxing, such as Oscar de la Hoya.
If Mayweather loses, then a fight with Pacquiao loses its luster. Despite their strong rivalry, the Pac Man wants to be the one to de-throne Mayweather from his undefeated status.
What do you think the odds are that Mosley will beat Mayweather or vice versa? Do you think we will still get to see a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight?
Source: cnmnewsnetwork.com
The fight between the formerly retired fighter and Mosley is highly anticipated, and if Mayweather does defeat his opponent everyone will be crying that much harder for a fight against Mayweather and Pacquiao.
The Filipino fighter isn’t backing down from his lawsuit threats. There are some rumors floating around saying that if Mayweather drops his blood testing requirements, the Pac Man will drop his lawsuit and fight him. These rumors have been denied by representatives of the fighter, who claim that he has lost millions of dollars in potential endorsements and that his reputation has been irreparably tarnished.
Pro Boxing Fan predicts that Mayweather will win the fight, although Mosley will put on a strong offensive. They predict that the fight will end via unanimous decision instead of a knockout.
Mayweather has a lot on the line – a lot more than Mosley. If Mayweather defeats Mosley, he’s just adding himself to a laundry list of top-knotch fighters that have fallen to Floyd’s tactics. Mayweather has scored wins against some of the biggest names in boxing, such as Oscar de la Hoya.
If Mayweather loses, then a fight with Pacquiao loses its luster. Despite their strong rivalry, the Pac Man wants to be the one to de-throne Mayweather from his undefeated status.
What do you think the odds are that Mosley will beat Mayweather or vice versa? Do you think we will still get to see a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight?
Source: cnmnewsnetwork.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Pacquiao picks Mosley to win over Mayweather
MANILA, Philippines – The world’s best pound-for-pound fighter made a prediction on the outcome of the May 1 fight between Americans Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Shane Mosley.
“I think Mosley will win,” Manny Pacquiao declared on the Krystal Hart Show as quoted by FightFan.com.
Even if he thinks that Mayweather is a "boring" fighter, Pacquiao said that the fight between "Pretty Boy Floyd" and "Sugar Shane" will still be a treat for fight fans.
“I think Mayweather vs. Mosley will be a good fight,” he said.
Pacquiao then went on to give another reason why his scheduled March 13 bout with Mayweather did not push through.
“I’m not concerned about the Money (that would have come in a fight vs. Mayweather). I’m concerned about what I can give in terms of my performance to the people who love boxing. My concern isn’t only with myself, but with the people who buy tickets looking for a good fight,” he said.
“I don’t want to disappoint people with a boring fight. I feel you need to entertain the people who watch your fights.”
Pacquiao, meanwhile, assured a very good fight against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey, whom he will face on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“It’s going to be a good fight because he has a good style. It’s a different kind of style and I want to fight. He’s bigger and he’s taller than Miguel Cotto.”
Pacquiao won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title last November by beating Cotto via technical knockout in Round 12.
Clean fighter
After Pacquiao’s victory over Cotto, talks on the Mayweather-Pacquiao match-up swirled immediately. They were supposed to face off on March 13 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Talks to seal the deal collapsed when the fighters’ camps disagreed on the drug testing protocol.
Mayweather, his father Floyd Sr. and other members of his team even alleged that Pacquiao was taking performance-enhancing drugs. The Filipino boxing icon already filed a defamation complaint against them.
“I’m not against blood testing. Just not the day of the fight. I’ve had that happen in the (first) [Erik] Morales fight. I lost that fight and my body felt very weak. I don’t feel I recovered. That is why I don’t want blood testing close to the fight,” explained Pacquiao.
He also mentioned that he is a “very honest person” who prays and believes in God. He said his success in the ring only reflects the hard training he undergoes before every fight.
“I’m a clean fighter who trains very hard. People don’t know how hard I train and the sacrifices I make.”
He even hit back on Mayweather, saying that the American probably did not really want to face the 7-time world champ.
“I don’t think Mayweather wanted the fight. He had too many reasons (that lead) to cancel the fight. I’m not disappointed because I know I’m not the one who didn’t want the fight and I have to defend myself.”
Clottey’s disappointment
Pacquiao, who is training in the United States for his title defense, said he is not underestimating his opponent.
“I didn’t expect I would end up fighting Clottey but I will prepare myself and train hard,” he said.
“Clottey is a strong guy and a good fighter. He’s a former world champion. I am sure we will have a good fight and create a lot of excitement in the ring.”
The Ghanian, on the other hand, is still encountering problems in his fight preparations because his trainer, Godwin Dzanie Kotey better known as Alloway, has not yet secured a US visa.
“I am fine but tell Ghana that they’ve disappointed me by not giving my trainer visa to come here with me,” Clottey said in a GhanaWeb.com article.
“The only thing I can tell you is everything is fine with me and I’m ready to fight [even] if the government can’t help because it’s my life on the line,” added Clottey. – With reports from GhanaWeb.com and FightFan.com
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
“I think Mosley will win,” Manny Pacquiao declared on the Krystal Hart Show as quoted by FightFan.com.
Even if he thinks that Mayweather is a "boring" fighter, Pacquiao said that the fight between "Pretty Boy Floyd" and "Sugar Shane" will still be a treat for fight fans.
“I think Mayweather vs. Mosley will be a good fight,” he said.
Pacquiao then went on to give another reason why his scheduled March 13 bout with Mayweather did not push through.
“I’m not concerned about the Money (that would have come in a fight vs. Mayweather). I’m concerned about what I can give in terms of my performance to the people who love boxing. My concern isn’t only with myself, but with the people who buy tickets looking for a good fight,” he said.
“I don’t want to disappoint people with a boring fight. I feel you need to entertain the people who watch your fights.”
Pacquiao, meanwhile, assured a very good fight against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey, whom he will face on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“It’s going to be a good fight because he has a good style. It’s a different kind of style and I want to fight. He’s bigger and he’s taller than Miguel Cotto.”
Pacquiao won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title last November by beating Cotto via technical knockout in Round 12.
Clean fighter
After Pacquiao’s victory over Cotto, talks on the Mayweather-Pacquiao match-up swirled immediately. They were supposed to face off on March 13 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Talks to seal the deal collapsed when the fighters’ camps disagreed on the drug testing protocol.
Mayweather, his father Floyd Sr. and other members of his team even alleged that Pacquiao was taking performance-enhancing drugs. The Filipino boxing icon already filed a defamation complaint against them.
“I’m not against blood testing. Just not the day of the fight. I’ve had that happen in the (first) [Erik] Morales fight. I lost that fight and my body felt very weak. I don’t feel I recovered. That is why I don’t want blood testing close to the fight,” explained Pacquiao.
He also mentioned that he is a “very honest person” who prays and believes in God. He said his success in the ring only reflects the hard training he undergoes before every fight.
“I’m a clean fighter who trains very hard. People don’t know how hard I train and the sacrifices I make.”
He even hit back on Mayweather, saying that the American probably did not really want to face the 7-time world champ.
“I don’t think Mayweather wanted the fight. He had too many reasons (that lead) to cancel the fight. I’m not disappointed because I know I’m not the one who didn’t want the fight and I have to defend myself.”
Clottey’s disappointment
Pacquiao, who is training in the United States for his title defense, said he is not underestimating his opponent.
“I didn’t expect I would end up fighting Clottey but I will prepare myself and train hard,” he said.
“Clottey is a strong guy and a good fighter. He’s a former world champion. I am sure we will have a good fight and create a lot of excitement in the ring.”
The Ghanian, on the other hand, is still encountering problems in his fight preparations because his trainer, Godwin Dzanie Kotey better known as Alloway, has not yet secured a US visa.
“I am fine but tell Ghana that they’ve disappointed me by not giving my trainer visa to come here with me,” Clottey said in a GhanaWeb.com article.
“The only thing I can tell you is everything is fine with me and I’m ready to fight [even] if the government can’t help because it’s my life on the line,” added Clottey. – With reports from GhanaWeb.com and FightFan.com
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Mayweather-Mosley and Pacquiao-Clottey analysis
By By Benjamin Dover: I have been thinking hard about the two bouts coming up and i’m going to start with the main one. On May 1st you have Mayweather-Mosley, a fight boxing fans have been waiting and waiting for and now it’s finally happening. You have Floyd Mayweather 40-0 (25 KO’s) and Shane Mosley 46-5 (39 KO’s.)
I see this fight being a close one for the first 4-5 rounds with Mosley looking to pressure Floyd and trying to make him fight. I see Shane throwing a lot but not landing many along the way, similar to the De La Hoya-Mayweather fight.
I see Mayweather using the shoulder roll and the defensive genius when Mosley has him on the ropes and when Mosley gets him too the centre of the ring, Mayweather will be using that whiplash like jab and printing it on Mosley’s already very flat nose. Shane has a lot of power and can trouble Floyd if he can connect but how can you hit a guy who is so technically smart and has the skills and IQ that Mayweather has. It’ll be a great fight between two of the greatest fighters of their era’s but in the end I see Mayweather winning around an 8 rounds to 4 decision. Mosley has a lot of power and speed but he does throw wild at times and he does have trouble with boxers and there isn’t no better boxer than Floyd Mayweather.
On March 13th we have Pacquiao-Cottey, a completely different fight compared to Mayweather-Mosley. I see Pacquiao-Clottey being more of a brawl in a sense that Pacquiao will be using his speed and angles to hit Clottey. I think Clottey is a tough welterweight and a good fighter but he is tailor made for Pacquiao. He doesn’t move and has the tendency to stop throwing in the last few rounds and just stand there taking shots, against a fighter who throws and pressures like Pacquiao, this isn’t a smart move. I see Pacquiao winning a clear decision or maybe being the first person to stop Clottey in the later rounds. It all depends on Clottey, he needs to cover up well and use his boxing skills and power, because he does have that in his locker. He just has the tendency to take his foot off the gas I think it’s a stamina and weight issue because he does struggle to make weight limits.
After both of these bouts I see Mayweather and Pacquiao both coming out on top and again everyone will be talking about who’s better than who and debating the two fighters. Hopefully after May 1st were talking about Mayweather-Pacquiao once again.
Source: boxingnews24.com
I see this fight being a close one for the first 4-5 rounds with Mosley looking to pressure Floyd and trying to make him fight. I see Shane throwing a lot but not landing many along the way, similar to the De La Hoya-Mayweather fight.
I see Mayweather using the shoulder roll and the defensive genius when Mosley has him on the ropes and when Mosley gets him too the centre of the ring, Mayweather will be using that whiplash like jab and printing it on Mosley’s already very flat nose. Shane has a lot of power and can trouble Floyd if he can connect but how can you hit a guy who is so technically smart and has the skills and IQ that Mayweather has. It’ll be a great fight between two of the greatest fighters of their era’s but in the end I see Mayweather winning around an 8 rounds to 4 decision. Mosley has a lot of power and speed but he does throw wild at times and he does have trouble with boxers and there isn’t no better boxer than Floyd Mayweather.
On March 13th we have Pacquiao-Cottey, a completely different fight compared to Mayweather-Mosley. I see Pacquiao-Clottey being more of a brawl in a sense that Pacquiao will be using his speed and angles to hit Clottey. I think Clottey is a tough welterweight and a good fighter but he is tailor made for Pacquiao. He doesn’t move and has the tendency to stop throwing in the last few rounds and just stand there taking shots, against a fighter who throws and pressures like Pacquiao, this isn’t a smart move. I see Pacquiao winning a clear decision or maybe being the first person to stop Clottey in the later rounds. It all depends on Clottey, he needs to cover up well and use his boxing skills and power, because he does have that in his locker. He just has the tendency to take his foot off the gas I think it’s a stamina and weight issue because he does struggle to make weight limits.
After both of these bouts I see Mayweather and Pacquiao both coming out on top and again everyone will be talking about who’s better than who and debating the two fighters. Hopefully after May 1st were talking about Mayweather-Pacquiao once again.
Source: boxingnews24.com
Friday, February 12, 2010
Mosley thrilled to finally have signed fight
Two of the best 147-pounders in the world will meet May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, in what is easily the biggest fight in boxing that doesn't involve a Filipino fighter named Manny.
Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) is a five-division champion whose flamboyance has made him a crossover star, with interests as diverse as WWE's "Wrestlemania" and "Dancing With the Stars." He's been involved in some of the richest fights in boxing, but is still hounded by critics who claim he's never fought a true welterweight in their prime.
Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) is a three-division champion who has pursued Mayweather since the late 1990s, when they were both in lighter divisions. He's faced just about every big name available, from De La Hoya to Antonio Margarito, but has dealt with his own critics after admitting to unknowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.
"It won't be the fight of my life, but I just want to make a point that I'm the best fighter," Mosley said. "There's not a welterweight out there who can beat me. I don't just want to talk about, I want to do it."
After years or negotiations and the fight repeatedly falling through, Mosley and Mayweather wound up together in a sort of fortunate accident.
Mayweather was left looking for an opponent after acrimonious negotiations to fight Manny Pacquiao fell through and the pound-for-pound king signed to fight Josh Clottey instead. Mosley was supposed to face Andre Berto in a unification bout on Jan. 30, but Berto withdrew after the earthquake in Haiti killed several family members.
Even though Mayweather took his time signing the contract -- leaving Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions on edge -- everything officially came together last week.
"He was waiting for that opportunity for so long and finally it's here. He couldn't be happier," Schaefer said. "Sometimes with those big fights, when you don't try too hard they happen, and when you try too hard they don't. You just have to let things fall into place."
Another issue that needed to be overcome was the protocol for drug testing, which scuttled the proposed fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style testing and refused to budge off blood tests two weeks before the fight, while Pacquiao claimed he feels weak when he gives blood and refused to do so less than 24 days out.
Mosley readily agreed to blood testing, which is far more extensive than the normal urine tests that are required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"The people have in their mind that it's Manny Pacquiao, it's Mayweather, and everybody's focusing on that," Mosley said. "I'm coming through the backdoor and I'm going to make sure they know I'm here. This is my era, and I'm not going to let nobody take that from me."
Sure, Pacquiao is considered by many the best fighter in the world regardless of weight. And others believe Mayweather is even better than him. But there is little disputing the resume that Mosley has put together, especially over the past few years.
After dropping a pair of close decisions to Winky Wright, Mosley rattled off five straight wins, beating Fernando Vargas twice and Luis Collazo for an interim belt. After losing another close decision, this time to Miguel Cotto, Mosley stopped Ricardo Mayorga to set up a showdown with feared puncher Antonio Margarito.
Mosley looked nothing like a 39-year-old fighter at Staples Center that night, battering Margarito from post to post before ending the fight in the ninth round.
"Put the guys I fought against the guys he fought and what happens?" Mayweather said, joining in the criticism of Mayweather's opposition. "I fought guys that come into the ring at 172 (pounds), he fought guys that don't even reach the 147-pound limit. I'm fighting guys that are taller and bigger than me in every way, and knocking them out."
Considered one of the most affable fighters in the game, it's little surprise that Mosley has trouble wiping that smile from his face. He stops mid-sentence to sign autographs and take photographs with fans, then gets right back to answer whatever question he was asked.
All the while, he wears a giant grin on his face.
And it's never been bigger.
"He was down there for two days meeting with the media," said HBO Sports vice president Mark Taffett, referring to the Super Bowl festivities in Miami. "He was simply phenomenal. He has the energy of a 20-year-old."
Source: usatoday.com
Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) is a five-division champion whose flamboyance has made him a crossover star, with interests as diverse as WWE's "Wrestlemania" and "Dancing With the Stars." He's been involved in some of the richest fights in boxing, but is still hounded by critics who claim he's never fought a true welterweight in their prime.
Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) is a three-division champion who has pursued Mayweather since the late 1990s, when they were both in lighter divisions. He's faced just about every big name available, from De La Hoya to Antonio Margarito, but has dealt with his own critics after admitting to unknowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.
"It won't be the fight of my life, but I just want to make a point that I'm the best fighter," Mosley said. "There's not a welterweight out there who can beat me. I don't just want to talk about, I want to do it."
After years or negotiations and the fight repeatedly falling through, Mosley and Mayweather wound up together in a sort of fortunate accident.
Mayweather was left looking for an opponent after acrimonious negotiations to fight Manny Pacquiao fell through and the pound-for-pound king signed to fight Josh Clottey instead. Mosley was supposed to face Andre Berto in a unification bout on Jan. 30, but Berto withdrew after the earthquake in Haiti killed several family members.
Even though Mayweather took his time signing the contract -- leaving Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions on edge -- everything officially came together last week.
"He was waiting for that opportunity for so long and finally it's here. He couldn't be happier," Schaefer said. "Sometimes with those big fights, when you don't try too hard they happen, and when you try too hard they don't. You just have to let things fall into place."
Another issue that needed to be overcome was the protocol for drug testing, which scuttled the proposed fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style testing and refused to budge off blood tests two weeks before the fight, while Pacquiao claimed he feels weak when he gives blood and refused to do so less than 24 days out.
Mosley readily agreed to blood testing, which is far more extensive than the normal urine tests that are required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"The people have in their mind that it's Manny Pacquiao, it's Mayweather, and everybody's focusing on that," Mosley said. "I'm coming through the backdoor and I'm going to make sure they know I'm here. This is my era, and I'm not going to let nobody take that from me."
Sure, Pacquiao is considered by many the best fighter in the world regardless of weight. And others believe Mayweather is even better than him. But there is little disputing the resume that Mosley has put together, especially over the past few years.
After dropping a pair of close decisions to Winky Wright, Mosley rattled off five straight wins, beating Fernando Vargas twice and Luis Collazo for an interim belt. After losing another close decision, this time to Miguel Cotto, Mosley stopped Ricardo Mayorga to set up a showdown with feared puncher Antonio Margarito.
Mosley looked nothing like a 39-year-old fighter at Staples Center that night, battering Margarito from post to post before ending the fight in the ninth round.
"Put the guys I fought against the guys he fought and what happens?" Mayweather said, joining in the criticism of Mayweather's opposition. "I fought guys that come into the ring at 172 (pounds), he fought guys that don't even reach the 147-pound limit. I'm fighting guys that are taller and bigger than me in every way, and knocking them out."
Considered one of the most affable fighters in the game, it's little surprise that Mosley has trouble wiping that smile from his face. He stops mid-sentence to sign autographs and take photographs with fans, then gets right back to answer whatever question he was asked.
All the while, he wears a giant grin on his face.
And it's never been bigger.
"He was down there for two days meeting with the media," said HBO Sports vice president Mark Taffett, referring to the Super Bowl festivities in Miami. "He was simply phenomenal. He has the energy of a 20-year-old."
Source: usatoday.com
No drugs turns a chin to granite
MENTION drug-taking in sport and most people's eyes glaze over.
The subject is about as sexy as a nun's habit. But, thanks to Manny Pacquiao, boxing has had the finger of suspicion levelled against it.
Allegations have been flying that boxing has a major drug problem that it is sweeping under the canvas. This has come about because Pacquiao refused Floyd Mayweather Jnr's demand that he must undergo Olympic-style testing before any showdown between them.
The damaging inference from the Mayweather camp could not be made any clearer.
They claim Pacquiao's success in winning world titles from flyweight to welterweight has been possible only because he has been taking performance-enhancing substances - and that is the main reason he's been able to remain so strong as he travelled up through the weights from eight to 10½st.
Pacquiao, understandably, is incensed by such a derogatory accusation aimed at ruining his reputation.
He should have been fighting Mayweather in the ring next month. Instead, the pair will be battling it out in court.
The Filipino is suing Mayweather for defamation and he said this week: "I feel hurt and disappointed because I don't even know what a steroid is."
Victor Conte does. He is the Californian who went to jail a few years ago for supplying sprinter Marion Jones and many other sport stars with steroids.
Conte has attacked boxing authorities for being less than vigilant in pursuit of drug cheats. The World Anti-Doping Agency agree.
He said: "I don't believe professional boxing wants to know how rampant the use of drugs really is.
"It's time for positive change. There should be random blood and urine tests leading up to fights. Taking samples just before and after fights is not effective."
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Conte's remarks were aimed at the US where Roy Jones Jnr, Shane Mosley and James Toney are the only high-profile fighters who have tested positive for steroid use.
For legal reasons I can't name names but in my time covering major fights in the States there were a number of household names under suspicion.
Even Muhammad Ali was found guilty of taking diuretics to lose excess weight before he fought Larry Holmes.
The British Boxing Board of Control carry out approximately 70 random tests a year.
In the past seven years only seven of our boxers have been found to have taken illegal drugs - none of them champions.
Board secretary Robert Smith told me: "We are certainly not complacent but I honestly don't think we have anything to worry about in this country."
James DeGale, who fights Matthew Barr at Wembley tomorrow, is surprised he hasn't been tested since he started life as pro a year ago.
He said: "In Olympic year I had three random tests before I even got to Beijing."
The chemists who supply the drugs and masking agents are clever scientists.
But I defy them to produce a pill that will put steel in a fighter's heart or granite in his chin.
Source: thesun.co.uk
The subject is about as sexy as a nun's habit. But, thanks to Manny Pacquiao, boxing has had the finger of suspicion levelled against it.
Allegations have been flying that boxing has a major drug problem that it is sweeping under the canvas. This has come about because Pacquiao refused Floyd Mayweather Jnr's demand that he must undergo Olympic-style testing before any showdown between them.
The damaging inference from the Mayweather camp could not be made any clearer.
They claim Pacquiao's success in winning world titles from flyweight to welterweight has been possible only because he has been taking performance-enhancing substances - and that is the main reason he's been able to remain so strong as he travelled up through the weights from eight to 10½st.
Pacquiao, understandably, is incensed by such a derogatory accusation aimed at ruining his reputation.
He should have been fighting Mayweather in the ring next month. Instead, the pair will be battling it out in court.
The Filipino is suing Mayweather for defamation and he said this week: "I feel hurt and disappointed because I don't even know what a steroid is."
Victor Conte does. He is the Californian who went to jail a few years ago for supplying sprinter Marion Jones and many other sport stars with steroids.
Conte has attacked boxing authorities for being less than vigilant in pursuit of drug cheats. The World Anti-Doping Agency agree.
He said: "I don't believe professional boxing wants to know how rampant the use of drugs really is.
"It's time for positive change. There should be random blood and urine tests leading up to fights. Taking samples just before and after fights is not effective."
Advertisement
Conte's remarks were aimed at the US where Roy Jones Jnr, Shane Mosley and James Toney are the only high-profile fighters who have tested positive for steroid use.
For legal reasons I can't name names but in my time covering major fights in the States there were a number of household names under suspicion.
Even Muhammad Ali was found guilty of taking diuretics to lose excess weight before he fought Larry Holmes.
The British Boxing Board of Control carry out approximately 70 random tests a year.
In the past seven years only seven of our boxers have been found to have taken illegal drugs - none of them champions.
Board secretary Robert Smith told me: "We are certainly not complacent but I honestly don't think we have anything to worry about in this country."
James DeGale, who fights Matthew Barr at Wembley tomorrow, is surprised he hasn't been tested since he started life as pro a year ago.
He said: "In Olympic year I had three random tests before I even got to Beijing."
The chemists who supply the drugs and masking agents are clever scientists.
But I defy them to produce a pill that will put steel in a fighter's heart or granite in his chin.
Source: thesun.co.uk
Mosley Makes It "Clear:" He Doesn't Need PEDs To Beat Mayweather
Despite his own shadowy past, Shane Mosley is unafraid.
He’s unafraid of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and just as importantly he’s unafraid of being asked to prove he’s no longer using performance enhancing drugs, which is why he’s in a position to prove he’s unafraid of Mayweather and anything else to do with boxing.
The two of them will square off May 1 in Las Vegas in the biggest fight of the year to date, a bout between the two best welterweights in the world. Just as significantly, it will be the first fight where the participants are willingly submitting to random blood testing for PEDs, the Mayweather demand that proved to be the undoing of a potential $40 million per man mega-fight this year between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s refusal to submit to random blood testing up to within a few days of their fight was, for reasons only he can know for sure, not something he was willing to do. His reasons included a fear of needles, a fear of being weakened by blood loss, a fear of this and a fear of that.
Mosley heard such excuses recently during a lengthy interview with TSS and laughed. He didn’t say he thought Pacquiao was lying. He didn’t say anything about Pacquiao. What he said instead was about himself but it seemed to make all things clear on the matter.
“I’m not afraid of needles,’’ Mosley said, grinning. “I’m not afraid of blood tests. They can show up at my doorstep in Big Bear (the mountain retreat east of L.A. where he will train) at 3 a.m. I have no problem being tested.
“I think it’s a good thing, to tell you the truth. There are track people and baseball players (using). These (strength and conditioning) trainers come in and act like they’re doing something for the athletes. We don’t need them. Boxing needs to stay with the old (training) style. The worst part of my career was when I had a sports trainer. I lost five times.’’
He also beat Oscar De La Hoya and in his preparation for their second fight later learned he’d used EPO (blood doping) as well as “the clear’’ and “the cream,’’ two nearly undetectable forms of steroids provided to him by his former strength and conditioning trainer Darryl Hudson and Victor Conte, who ran the notorious BALCO lab that was the center of the Barry Bonds and Marion Jones steroid controversies.
Mosley admitted under oath to a Federal grand jury that he’d injected himself with EPO and used both the clear and the cream but claimed he had no knowledge these were illegal PEDs. Conte and Hudson have disputed that and the story has lingered for six years, never seeming to go away.
Hudson and Mosley have an ongoing legal battle over the issue and Conte has served time for his part in the distribution of the illegal drugs to a number of professional athletes including Mosley. But now, in the weeks and months leading up to one of the biggest fights of his career, the 38-year-old WBA champion seems eager to not only face Mayweather but also to prove all he needs to win are the performance enhancers given to him at birth and developed over nearly 30 years in boxing.
“I feel insulted I’m still talking about BALCO stuff,’’ Mosley (46-5, 39 KO) said. “I never tested positive in 2003. If I was a juicer I would have been caught in 2003, 2004, 2006. It should have been erased.
“It’s been put out there for media purposes. That’s fine with me. I’m in a sport that is not really about strength any way. It’s speed, timing and the mental side. You can be the strongest man but if you can’t hit the guy nothing is going to happen. Floyd is a great fighter. He’s smart. Being strong doesn’t win Floyd fights.’’
The undefeated (40-0, 25 KO) Mayweather is still considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world despite having ceded that position to Pacquiao when he left the sport for a 21-month self-imposed exile. He came back in September and dominated one of the most skilled boxers in the world (and a long-time nemesis of Pacquiao’s), Juan Manuel Marquez, in a fight that impressed many people in boxing, but Mosley was not among them.
It’s not that Mosley doesn’t respect Marquez, who is one of his stablemates at Golden Boy Promotions. It’s simply that he and Mayweather are welterweights and Marquez is, well, a dozen pounds short of that.
“I’m the best welterweight in the world but taking myself out of the equation it’s Pacquiao,’’ Mosley said. “At least Manny fought (former WBO champion Miguel) Cotto. Cotto wasn’t the best welterweight in the world but at least he fought a real welterweight.
“You can’t come back and fight lightweights and junior welterweights (like Ricky Hatton). The last welterweight Floyd fought was Oscar and he’d been off for how long? You can’t come back for two months and say you’re a serious fighter.’’
Despite the fact Mosley hasn’t fought in over a year he has been training for fights that never happened. The latest was with WBC champion Andre Berto, who was forced to pull out of their match after the destruction suffered in his native Haiti left him unable to mentally prepare for a boxing match when he had friends and relatives left homeless and abandoned.
Mosley understood and is thankful the fight did not come off not solely because it allowed him to open negotiations with Mayweather after the Pacquiao fight collapsed but because he saw in Berto something Berto didn’t see in himself – a void.
“He’s not ready for it (such a big fight) mentally,’’ Mosley said. “I like Berto. I would have understood if he didn’t want to fight me in the first place. He wasn’t ready to fight me but he was willing to test himself.
“That’s what you like to see in a young fighter. He wanted to fight me but I don’t want to ruin a good young fighter. It’s not a skill factor. Mentally he’s not ready.’’
Mosley, on the other hand, is always ready. Or so it seems. At least he has been since ridding himself of Hudson and going back to the old ways in boxing – hitting bags, running, exercise, diet, sparring. Returning boxing to what it has always been – a sport of speed, wiliness and courage.
“I was always ready,’’ Mosley said of his own career. “I wasn’t ever intimidated. My first fight with Oscar people asked if I was intimidated. Why would I be afraid of something I wanted?
“If they told me in my first professional fight to fight the champion, Phillip Holliday, I would have done it. And I would have won.’’
That confidence, competitive spirit and willingness to be tested (now in more ways than one) is what has kept Mosley at or near the top for so long. It is the same thing, he believes, that will return him there on May 1 in Las Vegas when he and Mayweather offer to the world what boxing needs – a big night at the fights.
“It’s been very frustrating to sit there and watch different guys fight, but I was in the gym getting better and better,’’ Mosley said assuredly. “I was fighting, just not in front of people."
The last time Mosley was in front of people it was at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2009, the night Antonio Margarito was found wearing tampered hand wraps that the California Athletic Commission said were laced with a hardening agent similar to plaster of paris.
The wraps were removed and the fight went on, with Mosley dominating Margarito six months after Margarito beat Cotto half to death and less than a year since he’d done the same to Kermit Cintron. But on this night Margarito had no answers for the chin questions Mosley kept asking, questions that finally left Margarito totally beaten down after nine one-sided rounds.
Although Margarito was suspended for a year (and returns March 13 on the Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey card in Dallas) after the fight, Mosley insisted he had no hard feelings about his opponent’s hardened handwraps and would willingly fight him again after he beats Mayweather and then grants Mayweather a contractually-obligated rematch that Mosley believes his opponent is going to need.
“So what?’’ Mosley said when asked his reaction to Margarito’s effort to load his gloves. “He hit Cotto with them. A lot. How many times did he hit me?’’
Told “None,’’ Mosley beamed.
“Exactly,’’ he said. “That would have made no difference. I would have murdered him the same way, loaded gloves or not.’’
Mosley feels the same about Mayweather. While he concedes Mayweather is a vastly talented fighter who is quick and a master of defense, he looks at him, then looks at himself and concludes what he always has felt and what he believes is unchanged today. In a boxing ring, or anywhere else within the sport, he rules.
“I think the match with me and Floyd is a mega-match,’’ Mosley said quite rightly. “The real megafights are between the three or us (including Pacquiao), not with Clottey.
“I love to beat anyone out there. I love to challenge myself. That’s my competitive nature. I’ve always been that way. I love to win.’’
Shane Mosley made evident how much when it was suggested that Mayweather had won the negotiation with Pacquiao because he ended up in a mega-fight in Vegas with him while Pacquiao ended up with a far less high profile opponent in Texas.
“I wouldn’t say he won it,’’ Mosley said, smiling. “I won it.’’
So did boxing, which won because two of the finest fighters in the world agreed to fight but not to fight the idea of coming in clean of anything but what God and training will give them. In Shane Mosley's opinion, that’ll be quite enough, thanks.
Source: thesweetscience.com
He’s unafraid of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and just as importantly he’s unafraid of being asked to prove he’s no longer using performance enhancing drugs, which is why he’s in a position to prove he’s unafraid of Mayweather and anything else to do with boxing.
The two of them will square off May 1 in Las Vegas in the biggest fight of the year to date, a bout between the two best welterweights in the world. Just as significantly, it will be the first fight where the participants are willingly submitting to random blood testing for PEDs, the Mayweather demand that proved to be the undoing of a potential $40 million per man mega-fight this year between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s refusal to submit to random blood testing up to within a few days of their fight was, for reasons only he can know for sure, not something he was willing to do. His reasons included a fear of needles, a fear of being weakened by blood loss, a fear of this and a fear of that.
Mosley heard such excuses recently during a lengthy interview with TSS and laughed. He didn’t say he thought Pacquiao was lying. He didn’t say anything about Pacquiao. What he said instead was about himself but it seemed to make all things clear on the matter.
“I’m not afraid of needles,’’ Mosley said, grinning. “I’m not afraid of blood tests. They can show up at my doorstep in Big Bear (the mountain retreat east of L.A. where he will train) at 3 a.m. I have no problem being tested.
“I think it’s a good thing, to tell you the truth. There are track people and baseball players (using). These (strength and conditioning) trainers come in and act like they’re doing something for the athletes. We don’t need them. Boxing needs to stay with the old (training) style. The worst part of my career was when I had a sports trainer. I lost five times.’’
He also beat Oscar De La Hoya and in his preparation for their second fight later learned he’d used EPO (blood doping) as well as “the clear’’ and “the cream,’’ two nearly undetectable forms of steroids provided to him by his former strength and conditioning trainer Darryl Hudson and Victor Conte, who ran the notorious BALCO lab that was the center of the Barry Bonds and Marion Jones steroid controversies.
Mosley admitted under oath to a Federal grand jury that he’d injected himself with EPO and used both the clear and the cream but claimed he had no knowledge these were illegal PEDs. Conte and Hudson have disputed that and the story has lingered for six years, never seeming to go away.
Hudson and Mosley have an ongoing legal battle over the issue and Conte has served time for his part in the distribution of the illegal drugs to a number of professional athletes including Mosley. But now, in the weeks and months leading up to one of the biggest fights of his career, the 38-year-old WBA champion seems eager to not only face Mayweather but also to prove all he needs to win are the performance enhancers given to him at birth and developed over nearly 30 years in boxing.
“I feel insulted I’m still talking about BALCO stuff,’’ Mosley (46-5, 39 KO) said. “I never tested positive in 2003. If I was a juicer I would have been caught in 2003, 2004, 2006. It should have been erased.
“It’s been put out there for media purposes. That’s fine with me. I’m in a sport that is not really about strength any way. It’s speed, timing and the mental side. You can be the strongest man but if you can’t hit the guy nothing is going to happen. Floyd is a great fighter. He’s smart. Being strong doesn’t win Floyd fights.’’
The undefeated (40-0, 25 KO) Mayweather is still considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world despite having ceded that position to Pacquiao when he left the sport for a 21-month self-imposed exile. He came back in September and dominated one of the most skilled boxers in the world (and a long-time nemesis of Pacquiao’s), Juan Manuel Marquez, in a fight that impressed many people in boxing, but Mosley was not among them.
It’s not that Mosley doesn’t respect Marquez, who is one of his stablemates at Golden Boy Promotions. It’s simply that he and Mayweather are welterweights and Marquez is, well, a dozen pounds short of that.
“I’m the best welterweight in the world but taking myself out of the equation it’s Pacquiao,’’ Mosley said. “At least Manny fought (former WBO champion Miguel) Cotto. Cotto wasn’t the best welterweight in the world but at least he fought a real welterweight.
“You can’t come back and fight lightweights and junior welterweights (like Ricky Hatton). The last welterweight Floyd fought was Oscar and he’d been off for how long? You can’t come back for two months and say you’re a serious fighter.’’
Despite the fact Mosley hasn’t fought in over a year he has been training for fights that never happened. The latest was with WBC champion Andre Berto, who was forced to pull out of their match after the destruction suffered in his native Haiti left him unable to mentally prepare for a boxing match when he had friends and relatives left homeless and abandoned.
Mosley understood and is thankful the fight did not come off not solely because it allowed him to open negotiations with Mayweather after the Pacquiao fight collapsed but because he saw in Berto something Berto didn’t see in himself – a void.
“He’s not ready for it (such a big fight) mentally,’’ Mosley said. “I like Berto. I would have understood if he didn’t want to fight me in the first place. He wasn’t ready to fight me but he was willing to test himself.
“That’s what you like to see in a young fighter. He wanted to fight me but I don’t want to ruin a good young fighter. It’s not a skill factor. Mentally he’s not ready.’’
Mosley, on the other hand, is always ready. Or so it seems. At least he has been since ridding himself of Hudson and going back to the old ways in boxing – hitting bags, running, exercise, diet, sparring. Returning boxing to what it has always been – a sport of speed, wiliness and courage.
“I was always ready,’’ Mosley said of his own career. “I wasn’t ever intimidated. My first fight with Oscar people asked if I was intimidated. Why would I be afraid of something I wanted?
“If they told me in my first professional fight to fight the champion, Phillip Holliday, I would have done it. And I would have won.’’
That confidence, competitive spirit and willingness to be tested (now in more ways than one) is what has kept Mosley at or near the top for so long. It is the same thing, he believes, that will return him there on May 1 in Las Vegas when he and Mayweather offer to the world what boxing needs – a big night at the fights.
“It’s been very frustrating to sit there and watch different guys fight, but I was in the gym getting better and better,’’ Mosley said assuredly. “I was fighting, just not in front of people."
The last time Mosley was in front of people it was at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2009, the night Antonio Margarito was found wearing tampered hand wraps that the California Athletic Commission said were laced with a hardening agent similar to plaster of paris.
The wraps were removed and the fight went on, with Mosley dominating Margarito six months after Margarito beat Cotto half to death and less than a year since he’d done the same to Kermit Cintron. But on this night Margarito had no answers for the chin questions Mosley kept asking, questions that finally left Margarito totally beaten down after nine one-sided rounds.
Although Margarito was suspended for a year (and returns March 13 on the Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey card in Dallas) after the fight, Mosley insisted he had no hard feelings about his opponent’s hardened handwraps and would willingly fight him again after he beats Mayweather and then grants Mayweather a contractually-obligated rematch that Mosley believes his opponent is going to need.
“So what?’’ Mosley said when asked his reaction to Margarito’s effort to load his gloves. “He hit Cotto with them. A lot. How many times did he hit me?’’
Told “None,’’ Mosley beamed.
“Exactly,’’ he said. “That would have made no difference. I would have murdered him the same way, loaded gloves or not.’’
Mosley feels the same about Mayweather. While he concedes Mayweather is a vastly talented fighter who is quick and a master of defense, he looks at him, then looks at himself and concludes what he always has felt and what he believes is unchanged today. In a boxing ring, or anywhere else within the sport, he rules.
“I think the match with me and Floyd is a mega-match,’’ Mosley said quite rightly. “The real megafights are between the three or us (including Pacquiao), not with Clottey.
“I love to beat anyone out there. I love to challenge myself. That’s my competitive nature. I’ve always been that way. I love to win.’’
Shane Mosley made evident how much when it was suggested that Mayweather had won the negotiation with Pacquiao because he ended up in a mega-fight in Vegas with him while Pacquiao ended up with a far less high profile opponent in Texas.
“I wouldn’t say he won it,’’ Mosley said, smiling. “I won it.’’
So did boxing, which won because two of the finest fighters in the world agreed to fight but not to fight the idea of coming in clean of anything but what God and training will give them. In Shane Mosley's opinion, that’ll be quite enough, thanks.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sugar Shane is not the Manny to beat Floyd Mayweather
There are plenty of things that frustrate me about Floyd Mayweather - but that does not alter my opinion of him as the best fighter in the world.
Bouts are made on his terms, he can be too safety first in the ring and risk averse when choosing opponents.
That said, his May 1 bout with Sugar Shane Mosley is fantastic news for boxing. It will be a great fight but ultimately it has come too late for 38-year-old Mosley.
Mayweather has built a career on avoiding hungry fighters at the top of their careers. He wouldn't even spar with James DeGale last year as he said he was too big.
He is facing Mosley at the right time. He looked shot a couple of years ago. I mean gone. He was beaten comprehensively by Miguel Cotto and then came back to fashion wins against Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio Margarito.
He looked reborn. You ask yourself how he did it. It is an obvious question given that Mosley's past is blighted by steroid association.
He claims he inadvertently used drugs supplied by the infamous BALCO lab before the Oscar De La Hoya bout in 2003, which he won.
Since Mosley has agreed to a meet the demands of Mayweather for a more rigorous Olympic-style drug-testing schedule, the sting is taken out of the issue.
Advertisement - article continues below »
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Though how much confidence anyone can have in testing programmes is questionable, given the history of success enjoyed by drug cheats.
Screening agents are so powerful these days that catching offenders in any sport is not straightforward.
The point is the boxers have a scheme that both agree on, though it will be interesting to see if the drug issue is brought up by Mayweather as the talk turns trashy near the fight.
The undefeated 33-year-old is in for a tough night, but ultimately is too quick, young and fresh. Sugar Shane is tremendously brave and will go for it like he did against Mayorga. He is quick and restless and does not give a hoot about anybody. And he can punch.
But we shouldn't forget that Mayorga, a crude slugger compared to Mayweather, was boxing the ears off Mosley until the old equaliser landed in the final seconds. If Mayweather could have avoided Mosley he probably would have done - but he is chasing the money.
His lifestyle and his love of gambling on American football have left him with huge bills to pay.
That is why I believe a Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao fight just has to happen. There is too much money at stake for a truce between the pair's respective camps not to be reached.
It is the best fight out there by a country mile. So much so that you wonder if there is not some strategy at play to inflate the numbers when they do get together? I suspect we'll find out later in the year. In the meantime, Mayweather v Mosley will have the cash tills ringing. I'll be buying, that's for sure. CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE: www.barrymcguigan.com
Source: mirror.co.uk
Bouts are made on his terms, he can be too safety first in the ring and risk averse when choosing opponents.
That said, his May 1 bout with Sugar Shane Mosley is fantastic news for boxing. It will be a great fight but ultimately it has come too late for 38-year-old Mosley.
Mayweather has built a career on avoiding hungry fighters at the top of their careers. He wouldn't even spar with James DeGale last year as he said he was too big.
He is facing Mosley at the right time. He looked shot a couple of years ago. I mean gone. He was beaten comprehensively by Miguel Cotto and then came back to fashion wins against Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio Margarito.
He looked reborn. You ask yourself how he did it. It is an obvious question given that Mosley's past is blighted by steroid association.
He claims he inadvertently used drugs supplied by the infamous BALCO lab before the Oscar De La Hoya bout in 2003, which he won.
Since Mosley has agreed to a meet the demands of Mayweather for a more rigorous Olympic-style drug-testing schedule, the sting is taken out of the issue.
Advertisement - article continues below »
Click Here!
Though how much confidence anyone can have in testing programmes is questionable, given the history of success enjoyed by drug cheats.
Screening agents are so powerful these days that catching offenders in any sport is not straightforward.
The point is the boxers have a scheme that both agree on, though it will be interesting to see if the drug issue is brought up by Mayweather as the talk turns trashy near the fight.
The undefeated 33-year-old is in for a tough night, but ultimately is too quick, young and fresh. Sugar Shane is tremendously brave and will go for it like he did against Mayorga. He is quick and restless and does not give a hoot about anybody. And he can punch.
But we shouldn't forget that Mayorga, a crude slugger compared to Mayweather, was boxing the ears off Mosley until the old equaliser landed in the final seconds. If Mayweather could have avoided Mosley he probably would have done - but he is chasing the money.
His lifestyle and his love of gambling on American football have left him with huge bills to pay.
That is why I believe a Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao fight just has to happen. There is too much money at stake for a truce between the pair's respective camps not to be reached.
It is the best fight out there by a country mile. So much so that you wonder if there is not some strategy at play to inflate the numbers when they do get together? I suspect we'll find out later in the year. In the meantime, Mayweather v Mosley will have the cash tills ringing. I'll be buying, that's for sure. CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE: www.barrymcguigan.com
Source: mirror.co.uk
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