By Coach Tim Walker – An earthquake devastated Haiti a few short weeks ago. Millions were affected that day. Millions more in the subsequent days that have followed. One of those affected considerably was WBC Welterweight champion Andre Berto who was scheduled to face Sugar Shane Mosley on January 30. Berto’s body was still training for his showdown but his mind and heart, understandably, were with his family and countryman.
If you know Berto’s story then you know that he is born of Haitian ancestry. If you have ever had the opportunity to observe the Haitian community then you know that in spite of their difficulties their community is close. It is this love of family and community that caused Berto to walk away from one of the largest paydays, if not the largest, that he has commanded thus far. This left Mosley in limbo. No opponent. No fight. No options. At least that is what many people thought.
Manny Pacquiao had removed himself from a mega-bout with Floyd Mayweather, in lieu of future litigation, and opted to face the frequently dodged Joshua Clottey.. Miguel Cotto who recently lost to Pacquiao had also, by the narrowest of margins, posted a win over Mosley. The soon to be or recently reinstated Antonio Margaritto, depending on who you talk to, had already been toppled by Mosley in January 2009. Coming off that loss and year suspension he was nowhere near ready for a huge fight. Thus when you evaluate the upper landscape of the 147 pound division there were not very many big names available.
For Mayweather following the Pacquiao debacle speculation from readers arose concerning potential opponents such as Matthew Hatton, Paulie Malignaggi and Tim Bradley. The take in general from the public was that this crop of fighters weren’t worthy. To my knowledge Floyd never mentioned any of these fighters as possible opponents. Nevertheless they were deemed sub-level to his ability and Floyd received criticism for it.
Then something few of us saw coming happened. Something that has been debated on EastSide Boxing for weeks and weeks. Mayweather, sticking to a statement he made following his victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in September 2009, instructed his team to reach out to Mosley to make a fight. Wow! Then after what seemed to be less than 10 days of negotiating we got the announcement that the fight is official. Fight fans will be treated to the fight that many thought would never happen. The one fighter who it has been suggested has the rare hand speed and ring tenacity to deal with the ultra-gifted Mayweather. Everyone who emails me knows that I have always maintained that Mayweather/Mosley would happen in 2010.
In the aftermath of the fight announcement though something just as strange has happened. It seems that now in the eyes of many fight fans Mosley has been downgraded from a guy that Mayweather was ducking to a guy who is past his prime. Downgraded from the rejuvenated-one, after destroying Margaritto, to the in-over-his-head-one. Downgraded from a serious hurricane level threat to a tropical storm. I ask you, “When did Sugar Shane Mosley become not enough to face Mayweather?” How is that possible?
Without sounding negative about Mosley, I absolutely love his fight style, it seems that Mayweather detractors are pleading their case now. It seems, and I could be off base here, that they are setting the I-told-you-so stage. Sort of self-servingly generating an air that Mosley isn’t worthy to face Mayweather. Isn’t Mosley one of the 3 or 4 fighters that May-haters suggest he has been ducking? How can it be suggested that he is being ducked then after the fight is made be suggested that he isn’t worthy of fighting the fighter who he was ducking? Strange indeed. Just food for thought.
Coach Tim Walker is a contributing writer for EastSideBoxing.com and his own blog at boxing4life.blogspot.com. To make contact with him or to suggest fighters for Weekly Stud please forward emails to tpwalker@hotmail.com