SMART MONEY…IS ON “MONEY”
By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist
(IB) – February 03, 2010 – Now that both fighters; Mosley and Mayweather, have signed to fight each other on May 1st at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, We can actually begin to take a closer look at this fight.
For me, I will have to say that the SMART MONEY…IS ON “MONEY”, Floyd “Money” Mayweather. While I have a lot of respect for all that Shane has achieved in his stellar career, I don't see him prevailing against Floyd in this fight. In my humble opinion, there is actually only ONE real threat in the Welterweight Division to defeat Floyd. It’s not Shane or the Pac Man. It’s actually Berto. Had Mosley and Berto fought last weekend, we would have all witnessed exactly what I have just stated. It’s something about a skillful champion with a ZERO in the lost column. He doesn't know how to lose. That is the case with "Money" Mayweather. Mosley and Pac Man have experience in losing fights...Floyd doesn't and that will be the difference maker. By the way, Berto doesn't know how to lose either.
For all of the fans who are disappointed that the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fell through, this fight between Mayweather and Mosley will be more competitive and actually a better fight. I truly believe, without a doubt, that Mayweather would have thoroughly dominated Pacquiao in a similar fashion as he did Juan Manuel Marquez. Styles do make fights and Pacquiao’s style is actually a mirror image of Marquez’s style. The only difference is that Pacquiao is a southpaw. Let’s face it, Marquez won at least 12 out of 24 rounds that he fought against Pacquiao and yet he could barely win 1 round against Mayweather, despite Mayweather’s lay off from retirement.
In regards to Mosley, even though he will enter the ring as the champion, it is he who will have to press the action and be the aggressor against Mayweather. He will find out early in this fight how difficult it is to hit Floyd and just how great a counter puncher Floyd Mayweather has become. If Cotto was able to out jab Mosley and keep him off- balance two years ago, surely Mayweather will be able to do the same thing given he definitely has better hand speed and foot speed than Cotto.
Rather you like Mayweather, or not, he is actually great for boxing. The casinos are going to rake in a ton of money because a lot folks would love nothing more than to see Mosley KO Mayweather and will be willing to bet on it. The same will hold true for PPV buys. However, it will not happen and that’s why the SMART MONEY is on “MONEY” to remain undefeated and lift the WBA Welterweight crown from Mosley. It may not be the type of toe-to-toe brawl that fans would like to see, but the sweet science of boxing will be on display big time and the best in the business at this time, is Mayweather.
By the way, I wouldn't’t be surprised if Clottey puts up more of threat against Pacquiao than Mosley does against Mayweather. I just hope Pacquiao is successful and we do get to see him in the ring against Mayweather someday.
In closing, as long as Floyd Mayweather has a ZERO in the loss column of his record, you cannot have a meaningful, non-bias conversation about who is the greatest of all time without mentioning him in the conversation. This is not to say he is the greatest of all time but his does deserve to be mentioned in the conversation. I personally don’t think you can truly compare fighters of today against the fighters who came before him. In the end, just be thankful that Mayweather is still in the game and it’s great for boxing. So enjoy him while we have him on stage in the ring. Unless Berto is in the ring against Mayweather, it’s pretty much an automatic victory for “Money” Mayweather.
You have just gone InsideBoxing.com
Ron Brashear can be contacted at brashear@insideboxing.com, ron@youthofhonor.org
