Floyd Mayweather vs Shane Mosley Let the games begin
By Mike Samuels: Circumstances in boxing arise at the drop of a dime – fighters get sick, injured, come up on personal issues, or are flat out given ‘step-a-side’ money until a later date – so it should come as no surprise Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley have yet to make their proposed May 1st bout official.
Whether it’s official this week or next and whether it happens in May or September – or ever, for that matter— there’s no reason to let speculation ruin the possibility of a great fight for our sport. So without further adieu, I’m going to start the trendy ‘pre fight break down’ analysis that is sure to be flooding message boards around the world as soon as the ink is dry on the fight contracts.
I will use the follow criteria to break down both Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley’s intangibles: Experience, Speed, Power, Boxing IQ, Chin and Defense. You can feel free to drop me a line after reading this piece (if you, in fact, make it all the way through without falling asleep or deathly ill) by clicking the e-mail link at the bottom of the page. I’m always in favor for adoring fan mail proclaiming me as a true prophet to the highest pugilistic degree. But I’m more accustomed to the free spewing venom of hate mail thrown together by most boxing know-it-alls. Either way, I don’t discriminate and I look forward to hearing something, negative or positive.
Let the games begin.
EXPERIENCE – This is a sticky category if there ever was one. Both Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley were bred to be fighters like a farmer’s prized horse. Both guys grew up with boxing gloves hanging from their crib ceilings. The debating can go on and on forever. The bottom line is neither guy is going to give you an inch – both fighters are relaxed in the ring, comfortable and fluid in such a way that it’s easy to believe boxing pumps through their veins in absence of blood. This fight, however, is taking place in the welterweight division and when any objective person looks at both fighters resumes from the 147lb landscape, it’s a lot less tricky to figure out just who holds an edge.
Floyd Mayweather’s welterweight reign began at tail end of 2005 with a 6th round stoppage of the always game veteran Sharmba Mitchell. Since moving up to welterweight Mayweather has compiled 5 wins, no losses with two wins by knockout. The record looks glossy and impressive but reading between the lines any average Joe should be able to realize that Floyd’s only two welterweight victories of note are Zab Judah – who came off an embarrassing loss to Carlos Baldomir previously – and immediately following up with Judah-conqueror, Carlos Baldomir who was recognized as the linear welterweight champion despite having a glitzy record of 43 wins and 9 losses.
Mayweather’s other victories were fought at 147lbs against fighters who were naturally smaller with little to no experience in the weight class – Mitchell, Ricky Hatton and this past September, lightweight Juan Manuel Marquez. These are just the facts kids, and a major reason why a fight with Shane Mosley is so intriguing to the public eye. In Mosley, “Money” will be facing a legit welterweight contender with plenty of quality time spent fighting bigger, stronger guys, as evidence by his resume. Mayweather has fought once above the welterweight limit against Oscar De la Hoya, walking away with a 12 round split decision victory. It can’t be ignored that Mayweather weighed in for the fight at 150lbs, four pounds under the contracted weight limit.
Speaking of that resume, Shane Mosley began his welterweight journey in 1999 with a 10th round stoppage over Wilfredo Rivera. Ten years later Mosley has compiled a welterweight record of 10 wins, 3 losses, with six wins coming by knockout. Some of fighters to fall victim to the Sugar man as a welterweight are Oscar De la Hoya, Shannan Taylor, Luis Collazo, and most recently Antonio Margarito. Mosley has two losses to the late Vernon Forrest and a razor thin decision loss (disputed by many) to Miguel Cotto. Mosley has fought plenty at the junior middleweight rank, compiling a record of 6 wins, 2 losses – both to Winky Wright – with three wins by knockout. He defeated De la Hoya in a 2003 rematch now marred by Mosley’s questionable relationship with PED distributor Victor Conte’ and has also defeated Fernando Vargas (twice) and Ricardo Mayorga.
Based on their resumes, it’s quite easy to give Shane Mosley the nod in experience.
He’s been fighting at or above welterweight for over ten years and has defeated some very solid bigger fighters. Does that mean he’s a lock to destroy Mayweather? Not so fast...Advantage: Mosley
SPEED – It’s probably safe to say Shane Mosley (and perhaps Zab Judah) is the fastest, most athletic fighter Floyd Mayweather has ever come across since turning pro in 1996. But honestly, I just don’t see any room for debate here. Floyd Mayweather is an all around faster and quicker fighter. When he chooses to throw in combination, which is a rare scene nowadays, Mayweather does so with such elegance and skill it’s no wonder people who can’t stand the guy on a personal level are left to marvel at his skill set. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native’s punches flow with fluidity and relaxed nature so uncommon in the fight game it’s not hard to believe he’s been as dominant as a professional.
What separates Mayweather’s speed from Mosley’s is the all around factor. Mosley’s fists are fast, but his upper body and legs are often caught lagging behind his movements. He’s been able to overcome this problem against some of the world’s best fighters due to his killer instinct, durable chin and unquestioned heart. Mayweather is in a different league and if he comes to the fight willing to fire quick and accurate combinations he will test every quality Shane Mosley has in the tank. Just as the lack of welterweight experience from Mayweather’s perspective makes this an intriguing fight, the speed factor will do the same, only this time on Mosley’s end. Advantage: Mayweather
POWER – This may come as a surprise so I will attempt to build the moment ... (drum roll, please) ... the power factor goes to Shane Mosley, hands down. Mosley’s knockout rate hasn’t been as staggering since he’s moved up to welterweight and junior middleweight – he’s 31-0, 29 KO’s below welterweight – but let’s be honest, Floyd Mayweather couldn’t crack an egg at junior lightweight and he’s certainly not going to scare anyone with one punch power at welterweight. It’s widely thought that the last thing to go for a fighter is his power. This is good news for Mosley, who despite being 38 years old and nearly 5 years Floyd’s senior, proved he can still crack with his devastating knockout over iron chinned – and perhaps, fisted – Antonio Margarito in January of 2009. Advantage: Mosley
BOXING IQ – Both Mayweather and Mosley are smart, throwback type cats who any top fighter from any boxing period in time would have a tough time preparing for. Speaking from an adjustment point of view, Floyd Mayweather takes the cake. I’ve rarely seen another fighter so comfortable in the ring, especially when faced with adversity and a big fight on the line. Go back to the first Jose Luis Castillo fight. Mayweather boxed for the first half of the fight and stood toe-to-toe with the rugged Mexican the final quarter of the fight because he was forced to, not because he wanted to – and yet, he was still extremely effective (enough to pull out a razor, one point decision win on my card, forget what the official cards said).
Most recently against Zab Judah Mayweather was caught between the Brooklynite’s speed and awkward southpaw stance. Look no further than Mayweather being caught early on and having his glove touch the canvas in an attempt to regain his balance – although Judah was not credited with a proper knockdown. In both those fights Mayweather remained calm under pressure and sharp under fire. More importantly, he made the proper calculated adjustments to put himself in position to pull the fights out.
Mosley’s losses to Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright saw Mosley stifled in the first fights but able to make adjustments in both rematches. However, when the tide began to turn out of his favor, Sugar Shane seemingly abandoned the new game plan and regressed to stage one all over again. As expected the second fights were closer, but the results were no different. Sometimes fighters can’t break the mental hurdle that allows them to change who they have always been, and Shane Mosley is one of those fighters. It’s not a knock on the guy – he’s a first ballot hall-of-famer – it’s just simply the truth. I’m not a firm believer you can teach an old fighter new tricks, but sometimes – most of the time with Shane Mosley – you don’t need to. Advantage: Mayweather
CHIN – Many observers and message board morons are always so eager to bring up DeMarcus Corley buzzing Floyd Mayweather in their junior welterweight fight five years ago. They probably think that sort of thing holds some merit seeing as ninety percent of those clinging to it like the Pope clings to the Rosary have never been in a fight in their lifetime. I’ll be the first to tell you that means squat. Fighters get buzzed all the time, it’s boxing, not chess. One punch can separate your equilibrium and send you to the canvas no matter how great your chin is. There haven’t been many people good enough (or lucky enough) to crack Mayweather on his chin, but from what I’ve seen he’s got a decent beard.
Ok, now what everyone was waiting for me to write: Shane Mosley has a better chin than Floyd Mayweather. Mosley’s chin has been cracked by some of the best and hardest hitting fighters in the game (If you need proof, Youtube the fight with Vernon Forrest) and he’s never been knocked out. That says a lot for a guy who has been fighting professionally since 1993 – seventeen years, for those of us who can’t count. Mosley’s chin is on par as one of the greatest the fight game has seen. I’m talking about guys like James Toney, Wayne McCullough, Marvin Hagler and Larry Holmes. I’m not going to make a prediction on Mayweather-Mosley just yet, but I would bet my house against Floyd Mayweather knocking Mosley out. You can quote me on that. Advantage: Mosley
DEFENSE – With a hall-of-fame chin and exceptional power it’s not farfetched to think defense is the least of Shane Mosley’s worries inside the ring. Mosley, however, does have a much underrated defense, especially in his lighter days. It is often overlooked because when you watch Shane Mosley you’re usually left with an image of his opponent crumpled in the corner in agonizing pain or flat on his back looking up at the lights.
With Mayweather it’s a completely different story. Part of the knock on little Floyd over the years has been his fighting style. He’s too cautious, they’d say. He doesn’t take enough chances. And I’m not disagreeing with anyone who may think this. Floyd is defense first just like his poppa taught him from damn near child birth. He makes you miss and makes you pay – not in a sense of tallying up brutal knockouts on his record, though. Instead, Mayweather strikes opponents over and over until their legs begin to give in to his constant accurate pressure. Floyd beats you up mentally and physically and makes a lot of his opponents look silly – usually for the first time in their careers. That takes a toll on a fighter, which is why Floyd’s boxing intelligence is so high. His defense is just as good and probably better. Anyone who fights him – no matter how strong or fast or experienced – is going to have a hard time finding him. Trust that. Advantage: Mayweather
FINAL VERDICT – It’s too soon to predict a winner – at least from me, anyway. But there it is, the breakdown between two hall-of-fame fighters that are sure to produce a highly competitive bout on May 1st. The most intriguing thing to me, however, is that either guy has the ability to turn their opponent’s advantages into a disadvantage. It sounds crazy, but when you’re good, you’re good.
And Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather are just that good. Believe that.
Who Will win ? Vote Here
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