By Juan Carlos Castillo: WBA Welterweight Champion Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO’s) surprised many of us last January when he destroyed ex-Champion Mexican Antonio Margarito. It was not him, defeating Margarito, but the way he did what led us to consider him the best Welterweight in the World. Then, you have Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KO’s) who will face the most difficult test of his career when he collides with Mosley. Berto, while still undefeated, won the Welterweight title beating an old and lets be real, not a top-fighter in Steve Forbes, whose record and opponents speaks for themselves.
Common elements between the two fighters: both of them have speed, both have records which leads us to believe they are knockout winners and they both have pretty solid stamina. That, combined with their coming-forward motion of fighting will spread into a brawl. Berto will lay mostly on his speed and wild punches while Mosley will target Berto’s chin and try to counterpunch when Berto gets out of position.
There’s no reason to even compare their opponents since Berto is coming up and Mosley has demonstrated his talent. However, ruling out Berto is not fair, since he’s a titleholder and he has what it takes to bring down a fighter like Mosley is 38 years old, and for this analysis I’m not ruling out Mosley getting old overnight, but I don’t see any reason to believe he will..
The fight will start slow since Mosley does not work in a fast-pace neither Berto, and since Berto’s facing an opponent carrying a lot of power in his hands, that will perhaps work in his favor when he tries to outbox Mosley from the outside. Mosley will put a lot of pressure on Berto looking toward his future in a potential fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. now that Mayweather was left without any good opponent in the Welterweight Division.
Mosley has always been known for having a good work-rate and Berto as well, but in his fight against Luis Collazo, he was exposed in that sense, giving up all his energy and earning a narrow decision. Mosley has never faded in a fight, in fact he’s only been down twice, and that was long time ago against former Champion Vernon Forrest.
Berto will have a special motivation in this fight fighting for his country, which was victim of a strong earthquake, so he’ll have an extra for this upcoming event. Put all the pieces in place, and Mosley should win in a hard-fight that will surprise many going 12 rounds and both fighters having their moments. 115-113 Mosley.