FightHype's staff predictions are in for this weekend's highly-anticipated mega-fight between undefeated multi-division champion Floyd Mayweather and WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley. Who will win? Who will lose? Get the answers to these questions and more in FightHype's staff predictions.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS. SHANE MOSLEY
Ben "The Hype" Thompson - Mayweather by Unanimous Decision
Easy work! Well, maybe not easy, but I do think it's going to be a lot easier than people expect. Mosley will have his moments in the first couple of rounds, but after that, he'll begin to tire, he'll begin to hold and he'll begin to look like the 38-year-old fighter that he really is. Don't be fooled by the number of right hands he was landing on a one-dimensional Antonio Margarito, who after being caught trying to cheat, was thinking more about what was going to happen to him after the fight than what was happening to him during the fight. Floyd Mayweather is no Antonio Margarito. He's also no Miguel Cotto and no Ricardo Mayorga, two fighters who both had a great deal of success outboxing Shane Mosley, albeit different outcomes. Floyd Mayweather is the most technically skilled boxer on the planet, and that does not bode well for a guy like Mosley, who has a history of struggling against boxers who put a jab in his face and show him some movement. Although I was initially thinking Mayweather by 12th round stoppage, Mosley's not an idiot, at least I don't think he is, so I suspect he'll shut it down and just look to go the distance after about the 7th round. Mayweather by unanimous decision.
Percy "Talent" Crawford - Mayweather TKO11
As much of a talent as Shane Mosley is, I'm not a fan of fighters in their late 30's and early 40's fighting once a year, or in Shane's case, a year and a half. Mayweather has all of the tools to make him look old and I think that's the likely scenario. I think Shane lasts 11 rounds solely based on Brother Naazim's instructions in between rounds. I love Mosley and Brother Naaz, but youth and skill win this one. On May 1, Floyd will be the first to stop Sugarman!
Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield - Mayweather
Tim Harrison - Mayweather by Unanimous Decision
Mosely has a history of bad performances after long layoffs. 16 months removed from the ring will make Mosley's lackadaisical jab easy to shoot counter right hands over the top and under to the body. His best weapons, his straight right and underrated left hook, should be easy to neutralize for Mayweather en route to an easy, but closer than expected decision win.
Danny Howard - Mayweather by Decision
Shane Mosley has the speed, strength and skills to give Mayweather fits for the first five or so rounds. Problem is, Mayweather makes adjustments and Mosley hasn't had the best of luck with fighters who are more technically skilled than he is. It'll show in the middle rounds as Mayweather severely outboxes Mosley en route to a decision win.
Mike Juhas - Mayweather by Unanimous Decision
Similar to the Zab Judah fight, Mosley will win a few early rounds by engaging Floyd and forcing the action. As Floyd adjusts, he'll begin to roll with his superior speed, defense and counterpunching.
Roy Jones Jr. - Mayweather
I like Mayweather because of the confidence factor.
Andre Zurbrug - Maywether TKO12
I think both fighters are facing their toughest challenges to date. I suspect they'll both be extremely cautious in the early rounds. It'll be a tactical battle through the first half of the fight, but Mosley will begin to open up in the middle rounds, thinking that he has the advantage. When it comes to ring intelligence, however, Mayweather is the best and he'll capitalize on a mistake that Mosley makes late in the fight. Look for Mayweather to slow him down with body shots and land an uppercut that will have Mosley thinking back to his first loss against Vernon Forrest.
Felix Strunk - Mosley TKO4
The longer the fight lasts, the better it is for Floyd. If I'm going to pick Mosley, I gotta pick him by knockout because I just don't seeing him going the distance with Mayweather and getting a decision. I'm hoping that Shane throws all caution to the wind and just jumps on Floyd. In my opinion, that's the only way someone is going to catch the Mouth that Roared. That said, I'm taking Mosley by 4th round TKO in what will hopefully be a barnburner similar to Hagler vs. Hearns.
Simon Ruvalcaba - Mayweather by Decision
My heart says Mosley, and I will be rooting for him, but my head says Money May, so I'll go on record with a pick for him.
Charles "Sweetchuck" Presnell - Mosley by Decision
Mosley will build an early lead. Although Mayweather will come on in the middle rounds, Mosley will take one or two of the late rounds to solidify the win. It will be close enough to do a rematch.
John Herdon - Mosley
I am picking Shane Mosley because of his heart and his smarts, which will be enchanced by Brother Naazim. I think that Shane is going to do whatever it takes to win - boxing, pressuring, counterpunching and mugging - to break Mayweather's rhythm. I look for Mosley to stay composed and jab with the slick boxer, setting up straight, accurate, hard power shots from the outside and working his way inside to the body. I see him frustrating and hurting Mayweather more than once in the process.
Joe "JD" DeMaria - Mayweather by Unanimous Decision
After some interesting early rounds, Mayweather will begin to take over the fight. It may be 2 rounds a piece after four, but I expect it to soon be 7 rounds to 3 after ten. Floyd Mayweather by convincing unanimous decision is the call here in a fight that may or may not entertain, depending on what you go in looking for. So enjoy the hype, but prepare for a clear and decisive winner. 117 111 sounds about right; maybe 116 112 if one of the judges feels a little generous.
SKULLSPLITTER "The CEO" - Mayweather by Unanimous Decision
From the moment this fight was secured, I said Mayweather will win "in an easier than expected fashion." I'm sticking to it! The more heat Mosley brings, the greater the chances are he gets stopped, but I doubt he wants to go out as a Mayweather TKO victim.
Jonathan Ramirez - Mayweather by Unanimous Decision
This fight will be pretty even through the early to middle rounds. Mosley will come in very sharp and strong and with a good game plan created by Naazim; the fight will be fairly competitive. Look for Floyd to neutralize everything Shane has brought by the middle to late rounds. From then on out, it's a Mayweather shutout. Don't be surprised if Shane is taken out late. All that said, Mayweather by unanimous decision. Call it 8 rounds to 4.
Nick Sanchez - Mayweather TKO10
I think Shane will land some of the hardest shots that Mayweather has ever felt, even hurting and wobbling Money a couple of times, but as they always say, speed is power and I think Floyd has a little more speed than Shane. Look for Floyd to start pressuring Shane late in the fight, land a few solid combinations, hurting Shane, and just pouring it on until the ref comes in and saves him from recieving any further unnecessary punishment.
Gary Reynolds - Mosley by Split Decision
Mosley has a history of shocking the world and I think he'll do it again on Saturday night. The task will be tough, but Mosley is no slouch and I suspect Mayweather will have just as difficult a task as his counterpart. I expect the fight to be close. After all, if Oscar De La Hoya could keep it close, so I can Mosley, but this time, I think Mayweather will be the one with a stunned look on his face when the scorecards are read. It might not be convincing, but a win is a win and he, along with quite a few fans, will be happy to take it, along with Mayweather's "0".
Jack Plato - Mayweather by Unanimous Decision
Mayweather by unanimous decision, 116-112 twice and 115-113, in a harder than expected fight.
Sandy "plush" Liptrot - Mosley by Unanimous Decision
Steve "mbase" Coleman - Mayweather TKO9
Mayweather by 9th round stoppage. I'm goin' against the grain here, not with who will win, but how. I think Shane will be out-boxed and then become frantic, running into shots late in the fight. Yeah, he's never been stopped, but whenever you start sayin' that about a cat, that's when he gets stopped.
Pierre Bonny - Mayweather by Decision
I see the fight being a back-and-forth battle with Floyd outworking Shane in the late rounds and getting the decision.
Josh Jordon - Mayweather by Unanimous Decision
Mayweather's quickness should be the difference here. Sugar Shane will keep it close, possibly even through 8 rounds, but Floyd's superior skill and foot/hand speed will pull out the later rounds. Expect something like 116-112 for Mayweather.
Brad Cooper - Mayweather by Unanimous Decision
My heart says Mosley TKO 10, but my head say Mayweather by UD. Had this fight happened when it should have, a decade ago at 135, a pick of Shane by decision would have been simple. However, at 147, with Shane at 38, too many factors are going against him. His best shot is one shot: a blockbuster KO that gives Uncle Roger flashbacks of Rocky Lockridge.
Scott Canipe - Mosley TKO10
To me, Shane is the live underdog in this one. Floyd is definitely the better boxer with one of the greatest defensive counterpunching abilities in history. Shane will be the strongest and most powerful fighter that Floyd has ever faced. Those attributes, coupled with vast experience, will prove to be pivotal for Mosley. When Floyd backs up on the ropes, Shane will be able to outmuscle Floyd on the inside and land some devastating blows. My mind tells me Floyd by decision, but my gut instinct feel Shane will pull it off. I'm sticking with the tummy.