
Don't miss all this action this Saturday, January 24th, when WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito defends his title against former champion Shane Mosley at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and televised live on HBO's World Championship Boxing at 10PM ET/7PM PT.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN...
Boxing is back, folks, so what could be better? Our hunger for the sport we were missing could only grow after last week's terrific appetizer and this week the main course. So even if you're not a boxing fan and you're just a football fan wishing you had something to watch this weekend other than the Senior Bowl, you are in luck!
Antonio Margarito is riding high after he was able to beat down and break the favored and formerly undefeated pound-for-pound champ from Puerto Rico, Miguel Cotto. Margarito worked a long time to become an A-side and he is only now entering the realm of paydays that weaker men get soft off of. A win here adds a big name to the resume in a big event. A rumored 18,000 will be showing up at The Staples Center to catch the action live; not too shabby. June 6th has been set aside for the rematch between Margarito and Cotto, regardless of what the outcome is here, and while this may seem like it is etched in stone, nothing in boxing is ever a certainty. Should the PacquiaoHatton fight remain dead, well, like I said, nothing is permanent. Antonio Margarito could become a solid backup plan for Arum and the Pacman. While on the surface it seems far-fetched, don't rule it out 100%. No matter what, guaranteed additional big paydays await Margarito; a letdown now is not in the cards.
Shane Mosley has been doing this at a high level forever. That big money I spoke of earlier that can so often soften a fighter never had that effect on the Sugar Man. Mosley has all the money in the world, titles galore, and a first ballot trip to The Boxing Hall of Fame waiting for him so why does he continue to do this? Well, as crazy as it sounds, because he enjoys it. Mosley loves to challenge himself and he loves boxing, so that made this fight an absolute no-brainer for him. A win here would certainly keep him fighting and make him a possible opponent for Pacquiao or even a return opponent for Floyd Mayweather. On the other hand, should Mosley get beaten, and beaten badly, a retirement would surprise no one. Shane Mosley ducked no fighter, took on all challenges, including ones he didn't have to, and he always showed up ready to fight
there's nothing left to prove at all.
WHEN THE BELL RINGS...
This fight was discussed a few years back after Mosley beat David Estrada by decision in his return to 147 and Margarito beat Kermit Cintron by stoppage. Unfortunately, Sugar Shane was not ready at the time and they both went in different directions, only to end up on the same path except this time in very different positions.
Antonio Margarito beats you with will; pure, unadulterated will. While I think many people underrate him offensively because they only see a slow plodder who gets by on workrate, make no mistake, he is going to beat you by wearing you down and making you give. In that constant pressure is a decent jab, that can occupy you when he uses it on his way in, extremely heavy hands, a terrific left hook, a commitment to the body and unbelievable stamina. It certainly helps that Margarito is able to make use of his weapons due in large part to the best chin in the game. The guy gets hit with a bomb and he smiles at you, but his offensive arsenal is nothing to sneeze at.
What Shane Mosley gives away in stamina, chin, aggression, and power, he makes up for in hand speed, defense and overall skill. Mosley is the better boxer by far and the hand speed isn't close. Even at 37, Shane Mosley can throw hands as fast as anyone. Not to mention, where Mosley does give away an advantage, he is no slouch himself
his chin is first rate, his power is good, and his stamina stacks up with most just not Margarito. With all that said, footwork, angles, and hand speed is the key for Mosley here. The only problem, he really likes to stand and fight.
Early on, expect to see Shane Mosley have quite a bit of success as he flurries and side steps, flurries and side steps. Margarito is not a fast starter and he isn't going to become one overnight against a guy like Shane Mosley. As is often the case, it will be interesting to see what kind of work Margarito can get done to the body in the first half of this fight. Mosley will go in with the plan of boxing and he will even execute it early, but it will show up with diminishing frequency as the rounds pass. Mosley is a fighter and it doesn't matter if standing with a guy like Margarito is going to make this tough on him it's what he does and, eventually, it's what he will do.
By the middle of the fight, Mosley will have fallen into the trap of fighting Margarito's fight; it's just what makes Shane Mosley who he is. Scorecards will be mostly even, and Sugar Shane will be learning that he is neither the stronger nor the bigger man in there.
As Mosley willingly steps inside, Margarito will begin to dial up his uppercut. Both guys will have landed plenty of hard, flush shots by now in fact, I will bet Mosley has outlanded Margarito to this point, but the tide of the fight will be clear and it won't be favoring the man with the better boxing skills. As we make our way to the late rounds, Mosley will become increasingly flat-footed, Margarito will be stalking and both guys will give us our money's worth.
THE CALL...
We can expect plenty brutal, clean, nasty exchanges. We can expect Antonio Margarito to make Mosley fight his fight. In fairness though, he won't have to try all that hard. We can expect Shane Mosley's patented shoe-shine flurries. We can expect some downright crippling body work. Plain and simple, we can expect a fight!
After some early success in there, Shane Mosley will learn what so many of Antonio Margarito's opponents learn
this guy is not going to stop walking me down and beating on me any chance he gets. Mosley is 37 and we would be lying if we said we didn't see a slip in his game. Sugar Shane's legs are not what they were, nor is his consistency in there or his skills. If there is a guy who brings the right type of game to the ring to stop Mosley for the first time in his career, Margarito is him. Mosley will be valiant, at times the better man, and tough as nails, but he will not be able to keep Margarito off of him long enough to win a decision. Going into the late rounds, the Antonio Margarito tide will be rising and Mosley will succumb to it while beginning to give up a working margin to the champ on the cards.
Give me Margarito by stoppage in the 12th as the ref or Mosley's corner steps in to save the future Hall of Famer from further unnecessary punishment.