10.11.06 – By Ted Sares: First off, there is no way in hell he is going to retire. Let’s get that absurd thought out of the way at the outset. There are too many mega purses out there for him and he knows it better than anyone else except perhaps his uncle. Pretty Boy’s problem seems to be one of attitude and out-of-ring demeanor. What he need is a good Public Relations spokesperson. God knows he has few, if any, problems in the ring. Sure, if he retired now, he would end up being a slam dunk in the International Boxing Hall of Fame….but his legacy as a premature retiree would haunt him forever.
There are too just too may challenges out there for him. Miguel Cotto. Ricky Hatton, Antonio Margarito, Sugar Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya come to mind. As well, Paul Williams looms. Now I am not saying he should fight and beat each of them, but wins against Antonio, De La Hoya and Sugar Shane would cement his greatness. I would more than settle for that. Moreover, a fight with the Golden Boy would not be that daunting, and I think, style-wise, he has the goods for Margarito. Sugar Shane may be another story, however. Let’s examine that thought in more detail.
1) Sugar Shane dominated Fernando Vargas from the start and finished him off with one big and deadly left hook in the sixth preceded by a dazzling display of jabs and hand speed throughout the bout. This outstanding piece of work was reminiscent of a prime Mosley. Arguably, some might pose the question: was Mosley that good or was Vargas that bad? The thinking here is that Mosley was that good.
2) He is once again using feints, dazzling speed, quickness, and crafty head and body movement that served him so well in his two wins against Oscar De La Hoya and Vargas twice.
3) He is just as creative as PBF and can improvise in the ring and this adds to his already potent arsenal of weapons
4) He is very comfortable having his father, Jack, back in his corner. If the Vargas fight is any indication, it appears he is back to stay. After all, he is man who directed his son to three world titles and the biggest wins of his career. Unlike the strained relationship between Roy Jones Jr, and his dad, Roy Sr., Shane Mosley, 34, embraces having Jack in his corner. He also is visibly content being promoted by Golden Boy.
5) Mosley, whose amateur record was an eye popping 230-12 (Mayweather had a successful amateur career, with a record of 84-6) knows his craft inside and out. He is a combination boxer-puncher but trainer Jack believes in power boxing, a method in which punches are thrown at a high rate of speed, most of them power shots with the hand speed generating the superior power. That style has worked well in the past as his son became a lightweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight champion. Floyd also know his craft well and thus the ingredients for a perfect storm are in the offing.
If Sugar Shane continues to fire wicked combinations combined with his trademark speed and reflexes, he will be every bit the formidable opponent for a favored Floyd Mayweather Jr who showed something to be desired in his last outing with Carlos Baldomir. Mosley is no Baldomir.
It’s clear the 34-year-old Mosley is still on top of his game, but time is a wasting and he needs to get it on. For his part, Floyd weeps and says he may retire. Baloney! With memories of Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Duran looming in the background, now is the time for Floyd to cement his legacy……