IS MOSLEY STILL SWEET ENOUGH TO BEAT MAYWEATHER? By Moncayo Blackbull

Photo: Eric Van Dyke/InsideBoxing.com

IB-March 7, 2010 – On May 1st. we’ll have Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley take center ring in a contest between two pugilist whom have brought boxing excitement for many years now.

Both fighters are on the backside of their careers, with Mosley being 38 years old and Mayweather seeing his birthday come and go thirty-three times. Although not Spring Chickens, they do bring to the ring a whole lot of experience, and with experience we should see an entertaining contest.

Mayweather has fought notables Genaro Hernandez, Justin Juuko, Diego Corales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar DeLaHoya and Ricky Hatton.

Mosley also has a list of opponents worthy of note, John John Molina, Jesse James Leija, Oscar DeLaHoya, Antonio Diaz, Vernon Forest, Ronald Wright, Fernando Vargas, Miguel Cotto, Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio Margarito

Yes sir, that quite the experience.

The question now is, what does each of these guys bring to the ring besides experience?

With Mayweather you have elusiveness and speed. Mayweather is the best when it comes to defense and not getting hit by an opponent, by far Mayweather’s strongest asset. Next is the speed factor, Mayweather’s fast hands make counter punching his solid offense. Mayweather’s trade mark “Try and hit me and get tagged!”

On Mosley’s side of the equation you have strategic aggressiveness, solid punching, and ring generalship meaning he has the ability to keep the fight at his distance and has impeccable timing to find openings. You also have to give Mosley speed, if there were a “Speed” category in boxing, Mosley would fit into this group.

And talking about outside of the ring, this is a big edge going to Mayweather. A genius when it comes to getting inside the head of an opponent. Mayweather goes into a fight with half the battle won due to his brilliant tactics and ability to get controversy started against his opposition. We’ve seen it many times before, we saw how Mayweather started against Manny Pacquiao and its following suite with Mosley. Did we not hear reference to Mosley not being able to win without the help of performance enhancing drugs?

Many say Mayweather only has to take a page out of the Vernon Forest school of defeating Mosley but don’t look for that to happen. Mayweather’s style is bullet proof and until someone finds a weakness, he won’t lose and does have any reason to change.

Styles make fights and what we have here are two styles when put together will explode.

The beginning of this contest should start with both fighters being who they are and fighting the style they are accustomed to.

For Mayweather, it’s unlikely we will see anything different. After all no one has been able to overcome patented Floyd, so why expect anything different against Mosley?

The key to watch for in the early rounds is will Mosley’s speed be enough to stop Mayweather’s “quick release” and fast counter punching? If so, the fight will sway in favor of Mosley, thus making Mayweather get “out of tune” and by forcing Mayweather out of his comfort zone, Mayweather will have to change up. Should Mosley’s speed not become a factor and Mayweather makes good with his counter punching and quick release right hand, then it’s Mosley that will have to change and take uncomfortable chances.

Age should not be a factor for any of these guys, don’t look for any combatant to get winded, these guys are champions and have trained like champions all of their careers.

Both fighters have not been very active, Mosley has not fought since defeating Antonio Margarito over a year ago and Mayweather has fought only once since December of 2007.

Look for both fighter to bring their “A” game come May 1st. besides a nice payday, the victor of this contest will certainly be in line to challenge Pacquiao, should the Pac Man get by Joshua Clottey.

Is Mosley still sweet enough to defeat Mayweather? I think so, look for Mosley to be affective and take control of this fight in the latter rounds to pull off a split decision win.