MOSLEY VS. MAYWEATHER FATHER AND SON ANALYSIS

Posted on | April 29, 2010 | No Comments

(by Darren & Patrick McElligott)

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Saturday, May 1: Las Vegas – Shane Mosley vs Floyd Mayweather, Jr.; 12 rounds. (HBO PPV)

On paper, the Mosley vs Mayweather bout is about as even as any truly significant “Super Fight” since Tommy Hearns and Ray Leonard met for the first time. Both men have outstanding records, including numerous wins over fighters who have held titles in various divisions, and both have been the real champion of several weight classes during their careers. What separates these two from any of the current fighters in their class today – with the obvious exception of Manny Pacquiao – is that they are not just “great” champions, but belong to that elite club of “All-Time Great Champions.”

Any match-up between Mosley, Mayweather, or Pacquiao creates excitement not only in the boxing community, but among all sports fans. And while the failure of Pac Man and Floyd caused serious disappointment, Saturday’s bout will not only heal those wounds, but will create a huge demand for a bout between the winner and Pacquiao. These will be the bouts that define this era in boxing history.

Mosley, soon to be 39, is an inch taller, and has a two-inch reach advantage over his 33 year old foe. Since turning pro in 1993, Shane has won 46 of 51 fights, including 39 KO victories (75%). Floyd made his pro debut in 1996, and has a perfect 40-0 record, with 25 KO victories (62.5%). Between the two, they have defeated most of the top fighters of their generation. On Saturday, they each will be going into the ring against the most talented and dangerous opponent either has faced.

A great case can be made for each of these champions winning the fight. Shane Mosley possesses speed of both hands and feet. He attacks and retreats at angles, and thus is rarely standing in front of his opponent long enough to allow his foe to get set. Mosley mixes his punches up extraordinarily well, in almost every sense: from light flurries to heavy combinations; going body-to-head or head-to-body with accuracy and ease; and with the sense of timing and space – or “ring generalship” – that separates the all-time great boxers from the rest.

Floyd Mayweather has an uncanny combination of physical gifts and ring intelligence, which allows him to “hit and not get hit” in the Willie Pep/ Sweet Pea Whitaker tradition. In the Marquez bout, he showcased his jab, a weapon he knew he would need in his next bout (be it with Pacquiao or Mosley). He uses the ring very well, by either circling around to create opportunities, or by using the ropes as a spider uses its web. Floyd is, by definition, a counter-puncher. But, like all great counter-punchers, he is adept at using feints to his advantage: when the opponent reacts, Floyd can “counter” before his target throws a punch. The result is that his opponent becomes hesitant to engage, as Oscar de la Hoya found out when he stopped using his jab after five rounds against Floyd.

Shane has an advantage in punching power. However, neither man has scored devastating, early knockouts in recent years. Thus, in this fight, “power” will probably translate into accumulated punches. And that favors body-punching in this contest of skills. Shane’s ability in this area is well known; Floyd, however, is a far better body-puncher than most people realize. Watch his fight films: he can lift his right hand from under his opponents’ ribs inside, and he can hook his left around the opponent’s right elbow. And, on HBO’s 24/7, one sees Floyd practicing that very left hook to the liver while hitting the heavy bag.

Both men have trainers/ corners that work for them. In a general sense, Mosley has the superior trainer. While Shane’s range of sparring partners is limited, a 38 year old’s approach in training is going to be different than a younger man’s. The Mayweather camp appears hectic, if not frenzied, on 24/7; however, what appears on television is not always what is really taking place. What is most important is that both men will be at their peak when they enter the ring, and both have talented, capable handlers in their corners between rounds.

Mosley has five loses, and Mayweather none. The concept that “styles make fights” is important here. Vernon Forrest beat Shane in the amateurs and twice in the pros. He did so not only by using his advantage in size, but by counter-punching effectively. More, he hurt Shane with body punches. Winky Wright beat Mosley twice; certainly, Wright entered the ring a much heavier man (despite “weigh-ins” a day before), but also used counter-punching to frustrate Shane. Also, Cotto was able to outbox Shane in several rounds of their bout, by way of counter-punching.

Thus, in a fight that is too close to call on paper, it may well come down to those qualities known as the intangibles inside of that ring on Saturday night, to decide the
outcome. The choices for referee and judges can, of course, be a factor. Let’s hope that they are not. Rather, may the best man win.

Floyd Mayweather, like Muhammad Ali, has proven that he can capitalize on getting inside his opponent’s head. The little scene inside the ring after Marquez was actually scripted (watch the rerun on HBO, and note the comment about Floyd winking at Shane before the fight). The promotional meetings are also largely theater. What is much more important is the media coverage from each camp. Both camps – and both fighters – are reading the press reports, and definitely tuning in for 24/7. Thus, when Floyd spouts off about Shane’s nose and hair, and comments on his lack of jab and tendency to close his eyes when he punches, he knows Shane is listening.

Mosley isn’t going to change his nose or hair for this fight. Those are Ali-style insults: they are in poor taste, and they tend to sting for just that reason. However, he might, on some level, attempt to change in terms of his jab, or keeping his eyes open. Hopefully, he will not, for while these are both negatives, it isn’t possible to change them at this late date.

More important will be if Shane, like so many opponents Floyd has faced, becomes entirely focused on attempting to knock that supremely confident grin off Mayweather’s face in the ring. When we think of Ali in the second phase of his career, the only two fighters to did not allow him to get into their heads – Joe Frazier and Ken Norton – were the only two to beat him. That was not a coincidence.

The fight on Saturday is not only important in the context of the current boxing scene – especially in terms of who Pacquiao should (and perhaps will) fight next – but also in the top level of boxing’s history. Enjoy this fight, and may the best man win

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