Who didn’t enjoy a good game of musical chairs as a kid? When the music stops, you push, grab, and shove anyone in your way to get a seat. The lone person standing is out of the competition. Well, in the world of boxing, Shane Mosley was left standing when the music stopped.
Mosley is set to face WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto on January 30th, 2009 for a far less spectacular fight than he initially pushed for. He spent much of 2009 talking himself, the public and the media into believing he was deserving of a fight with Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.
It is Mosley’s belief that he’s the premiere welterweight in the world. This belief is partly due to a recent upset knockout of Antonio Margarito and his association with new trainer Nazim Richardson, trainer of Bernard Hopkins. (It’s Shane’s relationship with Hopkins that in all likelihood has spawned a “trash-talking” Mosley. I use the term “trash-talking” loosely because he’s absolutely terrible at it. Regardless of his impressive 46-5 record, there is nothing intimidating or funny about Shane Mosley)
Shane has been quick to point out both Manny and Floyd’s disinterest in a fight with him at 147lbs. But at age 38, is Mosley really as deserving of such a super-fight as he believes he is in his own mind?
Doping allegations aside (Mosley did admit to injecting himself with designer steroids prior to his 2003 fight with Oscar De La Hoya), Mosley’s resume isn’t exactly as “decorated” as he would have the public believe.
Prior to his KO of Margarito, Mosley went 12 rounds with the moving target known as Ricardo Mayorga, who had been recently knocked out by Tito Trinidad in round 8 and Oscar De La Hoya in round 6. Despite being considered the closest thing to a punching bag in the sport, Mosley only led by one point on one judge’s card, was ahead by five points on another and trailed Mayorga by a point on a third judge’s card. Basically, Mosley was a round misstep away from a loss before knocking out “El Matador” in the 12th.
Other recent notable wins include a win over Luis Collazo and Fernando Vargas (who has since retired and is currently competing with James Toney to see who can get to 200lbs over their fight weight.) Throw in a loss to recently battered Miguel Cotto and only one fight has elevated Mosley to the top of the pound for pound list. Quick analysis would show that this fight, in which he defeated a fighter in Antonio Margarito, could have been due to his corner preventing a cheater from cheating.
Regardless of how much value you place on the Margarito fight, none of the facts outlined here substantiate his new found bravado within the welterweight division. Somehow I feel compelled to make a comparison to Daniel-Son picking fights at school after winning the All Valley Tournament.
Shane Mosley with have to face the music when he steps into the ring to fight Andre Berto (25-0 19 KOs) on January 30, 2010 and we’ll have to wait until then to see if he is still standing when the music stops.
By: Jesse Campbell
Source: newyork.fighthype.com
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