Speed and more speed, quick and quicker old and older the gangsta versus the throwback.
Sugar Shane Mosley is a tremendously talented fighter. Floyd Money Mayweather is a gifted all world boxer. On May 1st these two rare athletes will clash in what many are calling the fight of the year. Will the hype match the result?
Floyd Mayweather is thirty three years old, which in most cases is pretty old for a fighter. He brings to the fight a gaudy record of forty wins and no loses, twenty five by knockout. Mayweather showed no signs of aging against Paquiao nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez. OUt of the ring for sixteen months there were questions before the Marquez fight about possible ring rust that never materialized. He knocked Marquez down and dominated him like no one else. The money man made it look easy.
Shane Mosley is thirty eight years old and sports a record of forty six wins and five loses. In his last fight Mosley completely dismantled Antonio Margarito stopping him in ten rounds. He fought like a man on a mission, moving faster and punching quicker then he had in a few years. Sugar was sweet and deadly that night, surprising a lot of the experts. It had appeared that perhaps Mosley had slipped a little after his performance against the mercurial one, Ricardo Mayorga. He labored mightily at times and looked sluggish though he did knock Mayorga out. The whispers were out there
As of this writing Mayweather will enter the ring a prohibitive 3 to 1 favorite (-365 at 5dimes.com with Mosley at +285). Is Mosley being underestimated?
Shane is an inch taller then Floyd and has a two inch reach advantage. They both have big fight experience and will enter the ring supremely confident. Mayweather has been his usual trash talking self while Mosley talks like a man looking for respect, like hes got a chip on his shoulder and is using it for motivation. He feels unappreciated and considering he beat Oscar De la Hoya twice (once actually the second fight was more a draw) his feelings are justified. Mayweather believes his quickness is the key and hes probably right. Mosley is almost as quick as Mayweather but he is defiantly the stronger of the two. There is no doubt that Sugar Shane is the quickest fighter Floyd has ever clashed with
Could Mosley cause some panic in little Floyd?
As for the fight I can see Mosley trying to press Mayweather right away. Hes never been known for having much of a jab but whatever he has he should use it. Anyone who witnessed the De la Hoya -Mayweather fight will remember that when the golden one was jabbing, success was flowing. Mayweather will lay back and and roll with Mosleys punches using his superior defense and also looking for an opening to jar Shane. I dont believe he can really hurt Mosley his chin is solid. Floyds chin is more a mystery and since Shane has more power well you never know. The fight will be very competitive and intense, Mosley has the ability to push Mayweather harder then anyone that money has ever faced. The Vegas crowd will undoubtedly be in Mosleys corner hoping for an upset, which I dont see happening.
In a see saw battle Floyd Mayweather will survive Shane Mosley and win a hard fought unanimous decision.
Let the negotiations (and drug testing) begin for Mayweather versus Paquiao.