By Paul Strauss: Sugar Shane Mosley has everything going for him. He is more experienced. He is the much harder puncher. He’s been in the big show several times. He’s takes care of himself, and keeps in excellent shape. He is popular in California, and Hispanics like and appreciate his style, so he will be at home this Saturday in the Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA. One thing is for certain, he won’t be nervous or worried, but should he be? Ridiculous, after all he’s matched against a relatively inexperienced fighter named the Latin Snake. Sergio Mora is an East LA whipper-snapper, who doesn’t have anything in his resume to compare with Sugar Shane’s.
It would seem the only danger Sugar Shane might be facing is over confidence. He knows this kid’s only real claim to fame is winning the opening season of the Contender. That’s the show that edited the action and added sound effects. No, Sugar Shane is not overly impressed. He is aware that Sergio Mora managed to beat one of his nemesis in Vernon Forrest, but he also knows Mora lost the rematch. Sugar undoubtedly believes the second fight was when the real Forrest showed up.
So why worry? There probably isn’t any good reason he should be losing sleep. The odds makers have him as a heavy favorite. Maybe he should worry about being over confident? Sugar knows Mora might be shy any real bonafides, but he also knows the kid is an excellent boxer, and very fast, both with his hands and feet. He knows Mora has a very good chin, and chances are Mora will be around when the final bell rings. Sugar knows Mora will have a three inch height advantage, and tall guys have always proven difficult for him.
On the other hand, Mora knows Sugar’s most impressive recent win came over the tough Antonio Margarito, but Mora doesn’t intend on imitating Margarito. He’s not stupid. He’s not going to try and fight a wide open wild swinging type of fight, and leave himself open. He’s going to try and make Sugar look relatively stationary. He will try to confuse Sugar with unorthodox moves and lead rights. He will push him and quickly move out, or off to the side after ripping off his lightning fast shots. His plan is to make it difficult for Sugar to counter. He’s going to taunt him, and feint the hell out of him, trying to get Sugar to expend energy.
Mora knows Sugar Shane will want to please the fans, and make good on his verbalized goal of knocking out all of his opponents. Mora is no dummy. He’s counting on that. He will try to use Sugar’s goal against him, and try to frustrate Sugar into taking foolish chances trying to make good on his promise to the fans. Sergio admits he isn’t a hard puncher, but he’s confident he hits hard enough to cause damage, and to win a decision. He knows he has snap in his punches, and can cause cuts if the opening presents itself. He’s also good at inside technique, and can roughhouse if necessary, and he will keep his head lower than Sugar’s when in close, so if there is a clash, he feels he will be alright.
Finally, Sergio knows Sugar is ten years older than him, and that he has been in some tough fights and ring wars. In his most recent loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Sergio knows Sugar had Little Floyd in trouble, and couldn’t capitalize. He hopes that what appeared to be a Mosley getting old right before his eyes wasn’t an illusion.
Whether that’s true or not, light might be shed on it Saturday. Obviously, Sergio hopes it’s true, and if ring age is creeping up on Sugar. No matter how much time is spent planning and preparing, and no matter how much time is expended getting ready, it won’t make any difference if true. You can’t put age on hold. You can’t duck it, or slip it. As writer Nora Ephron said, “…….the whammies start to mount up.” Then it’s time to worry!