Boxing’s Legends and Myths

Posted on | February 7, 2010 | No Comments

By: Patrick McElligott

While sports fans in general are unhappy that the proposed Pacquiao vs Mayweather “Super Fight” fell through, boxing fans are still being treated to two extremely interesting fights featuring Manny and Floyd this season. Although there was no need to try to build interest in these two champions facing each other, if they both win, it seems likely that they will meet by the end of 2010.

Pac Man is scheduled to fight Joshua Clottey on March 13, in Arlington, Texas. Some boxing writers have stated that this fight does not present Pacquiao with a serious challenge. In part, this is based upon each man’s last fight: Clottey lost a close decision to Miguel Cotto in June, 2009; while Manny scored an impressive TKO in 12 over Cotto five months later. However, the Clottey v Cotto fight was an intense, often “dirty” brawl, and though Pacquiao would have almost certainly defeated Cotto anyhow, it may be the Clottey
fight left him vulnerable.

The other reason some experts feel Manny is having a “tune-up” fight is because he is indeed one of history’s great champions, while Clottey has lost both of his big fights. Luckily, Pacquiao and Freddie Roach understand that “easy” fights are only easy, as the result of being 100% prepared. It would be foolish to underestimate Joshua Clottey, despite the lack of recognition or respect that some may have for this tough, talented fighter.

Clottey is almost two inches taller, and has a three inch reach advantage over Pacquiao. More, he is very large for his weight. Clottey drops a significant amount before the weigh-in, and puts pounds on between getting off the scales and stepping into the ring. Add to that his impressive hand-speed, solid defensive skills, and ability to take a punch, and he could present some serious problems for Manny.

While we expect Pacquiao to win the fight – at least by decision, and possibly by becoming the first to knock Clottey out – there are two other factors worthy of consideration. First, Clottey is, to put it politely, a rough fighter. His first loss was a DQ against Carlos Baldomir. Clottey’s head and elbows are serious weapons. He has been known to punch below the belt, in a manner that suggests he is doing so intentionally. As
intensely focused as Pacquiao is in the ring, we know from the March, 2005 loss to Erik Morales that he can be distracted by his own blood.

Second, while casual fans know Clottey primarily for his loses to Margaito and Cotto, he has some significant wins. For example, he handed two good undefeated prospects their first losses: Richard Guiterrez was 21-0, and Shamone Alvarez was 19-0 when they took on Clottey as a stepping stone to the big time. Also, he beat both Diego Corrales and Zab Judah convincingly, when the two former champions moved up in weight.

Though both were past their primes, Corrales and Judah were formidable opponents. Yet both found out, as
the fights progressed, that Clottey was simply too big and too strong for them.

Thus, Clottey poses a serious test for Pacquiao. If Manny wins – either by decision or KO – he deserves full respect for a win over a very tough, talented fighter.

The second big fight will be on May 1, at the MGM Grand in ‘Vegas, when Floyd Mayweather, Jr., meets Shane Mosley. In our opinion, much like a Mayweather v Pacquiao or a Mosley v. Pacquiao match, this indeed deserves “Super Fight” status. And, just as with those, this is a fight in which both fighters are absolutely capable of winning. Anyone who believes that there is a “sure winner” in this type of fight doesn’t understand the level of competition that we are being treated to.

This is an actual grudge match. Floyd and Shane do not like each other. Obviously, both men respect the talents and abilities the other brings into the ring. But they do not like each other, as individuals. It is safe to say that Floyd has more of a dislike for Shane, than Shane for Floyd. This is because earlier in their careers, Mayweather attempted on at least five occasions to secure a fight with Mosley. At the time, Shane was in the driver’s seat career-wise, and did not think the money was worth the risk. Boxing is, after all, largely a business venture.

In recent times, Floyd has been on the top, and Shane has been looking for the big (money) fights. Thus, he challenged Floyd, including in the very public way after Mayweather’s most recent bout. Because of this, some boxing fans – either due to lack of knowledge or short memories – have promoted the myth that Mayweather has long ducked Mosley.

The May 1 fight is fascinating on paper. It pits two legendary champions who, beyond extraordinary physical gifts, rank among the smartest fighters inside the ring. Both have the ability to initiate action in fights, but are at their best when they dissect an aggressive opponent. This creates a very real possibility that a significant amount of the twelve 3-minute rounds will involve a duel between two of the best counter-punchers of our era.

One of Mayweather’s greatest assets his his ability to adjust to anything that his opponents have brought into the ring. Love him or hate him, boxing fans recognize that Floyd knows how to do enough to win – often by frustrating the opponent’s ability and desire to fight their fight. Against Oscar de la Hoya, the first half of the fight was close; Oscar blew his lead in the second half, however, when he stopped utilizing his jab.

Oscar’s fans were upset by the decision, largely because they believed their man could have won – had he continued jabbing to set up what should have followed. These same fans had been upset at his loss to Trinidad, when Oscar blew his lead by running in the final rounds. What they overlooked in both fights was that Oscar consciously made the choice to stop doing what he had been, because Floyd and Felix were getting to him. The biggest difference was, however, that few boxing fans disliked Trinidad, while many have a strong dislike for Mayweather.

In Mosley, Floyd is meeting not only a great fighter, but certainly his toughest opponent to date. Shane has had a long, very successful career, and his true greatness may not be fully appreciated by the boxing community until after he retires. From 1993 through 2001, he was both flawless and explosive: he flattened almost all of the top lightweights of the time, before moving up to win the welterweight crown in an impressive decision victory over de la Hoya.

In 2002, he lost two wars with Vernon Forrest (who previously beat him in the amateurs); and then in 2004, lost twice to Winky Wright. In these four fights, it became evident that one shortcoming Shane has involves the jab. Because of his outstanding speed, reflexes, and power, Shane had been able to get by with a pawing jab. Against most opponents, it was enough. But, as styles make fights, Shane was not able to beat the two fighters he most needed a solid jab against.

When he fought Cotto in November, 2007, the announcers expressed surprise in the early rounds, because Cotto was out-jabbing Mosley. Why? In part, because experts like Bert Sugar have said that Mosley has “a great jab,” without ever taking notice that he doesn’t. Cotto, in fact, has a very good jab, though many experts overlooked it.

To fight successfully against Mayweather, a person would appear to need two things: a solid jab (hopefully a double- and triple jab), which allows every other punch to follow; and the ability to concentrate on a body attack, when Floyd leans back.

Many fighters appear to focus entirely on wanting to knock Floyd’s teeth down his throat, when he
flashes that contemptuous grin at them. Nope. That’s the time to start with the body attack.

Though his jab is not great, Mosley has a heck of a body attack. And he is an absolute master of punctuating the body attack with lightening-fast hooks or rights to the head. Such an attack often causes opponents to move slightly off-balance, and Mosley takes full advantage of this. Watching the highlights of his numerous impressive KO victories shows just how good he is at this.

Now, of course, to bring this attack – which Floyd fully expects – Shane makes himself vulnerable, too. It’s one thing to “know” how to beat Floyd Mayweather – everyone who has fought him so far knew exactly how to beat him. The problem is what happens along the way. Straight punches can’t land in a meaningful way on Floyd’s body when he is in his defensive stance. In order to make his body shots do damage, Shane has to do two things: step to one side (usually to his left), and hook below the ribs. The obvious risk comes
from Floyd’s ability to land with a short, straight right.

It is generally known that Mosley hits harder than Mayweather. In part, this is because he commits more in his delivery than does Floyd. Yet, in a fight with two outstanding counter-punchers, both men will have the ability to hurt the other. Perhaps more importantly, Mosley’s strength and speed could allow him to catch Floyd off-balance.

Because Mayweather tends to do the mental calculus that permits him to win seven rounds to five, even one “flash” knockdown by Mosley could upset Floyd’s strategy. Likewise, when Mosley commits to moving inside, Floyd’s power increases: he is a master of using the synergy of his strength plus his opponent’s.

A great fighter like Mosley will definitely be able to absorb Mayweather’s powerful counters for a few rounds. But even tough fighters with good whiskers have found it difficult to do for long. Both Arturo Gatti and Ricky Hatton found out the hard way. Oscar De La Hoya, while never seriously hurt by Floyd, ended up hesitating the split-second before punching, allowing for Floyd to punish him.

Another question involves Shane’s ability to maintain peek physical condition. While it is true that he is never out of shape, older fighters face difficulties that were not an issue in their prime. Mosley’s fights since 2005 have provided evidence of the problem of being at peek every fight. Also, there is the example of Sonny Liston being in great shape for his return bout with Ali; having it postponed due to Ali’s hernia; and Liston being unable maintain that level. Mosley was peeking for the Berto fight. Now, he has to go through a cycle that is more difficult at his age.

Clearly, either man could win. It will come down to who can impose their strengths upon the other. It may well be a fight where the momentum goes back-and-forth, through the last round. Whatever happens, it will be great for the sport of boxing. It should lead to the winner facing Manny Pacquiao later in the year. Because Mosley has shown the willingness to submit to the type of drug-testing that Mayweather demands, it would be difficult for Pac Man to refuse to do so in the future. And that is great for boxing, too.