Classic American West Coast Boxing

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Shane Mosley (L) follows through on a punch to the face of Ricardo
Mayorga during the eighth round of their junior middleweight
boxing bout in Carson, California, September 27, 2008.
REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES)

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CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Craig McEwan of Scotland throws a punch
at Hilario Lopez during their middleweight bout at the Home Depot Center
on September 27, 2008 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Hilario Lopez takes a punch from Craig McEwan of
Scotland during their middleweight bout at the Home Depot Center on September 27,
2008 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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Mosley stops Mayorga in final second
By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer

CARSON, Calif. (AP)—Shane Mosley stopped Ricardo Mayorga with one second left in the 12th round of their junior middleweight bout Saturday night to possibly put himself in line for a title shot.

Neither fighter appeared seriously hurt before Mosley floored Mayorga with about 15 seconds left in the final round. Mayorga staggered to his feet and took the mandatory eight count before a short left put him down again. There was no way Mayorga was going to get up after that.

Mosley led by one point on one judge’s scorecard and five on another entering the 12th round. Mayorga had a one-point lead on the third judge’s card. The Associated Press had Mosley ahead by three points entering the 12th.

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House seeks presidential pardon for boxing champ
By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP)—The first black heavyweight champion should be granted a presidential pardon for a racially motivated conviction 75 years ago that blemished his reputation and hurt his boxing career, the House recommended Friday.

Jack Johnson became world heavyweight champion in 1908, sparking a search for a white boxer, dubbed “the Great White Hope,” who could beat him.

In 1913, Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act which outlawed the transportation of women across state lines for immoral purposes. Authorities had first unsuccessfully tried to charge Johnson over his relationship with a white woman who later became his wife. They then found another white woman who testified that Johnson had transported her across state lines in violation of the Mann Act.

Johnson fled the country, returning in 1920 to serve nearly one year at Leavenworth. He tried to renew his boxing career after leaving prison, but never regained his title.

The House resolution, passed by voice, states that Johnson paved the way for black athletes to participate and succeed in integrated professional sports and that he was “wronged by a racially motivated conviction prompted by his success in the boxing ring and his relationships with white women.” It urged the president to grant Johnson, who died in 1946, a posthumous pardon.

“He was a victim of the times and we need to set the record straight— clear his name—and recognize him for his groundbreaking contribution to the sport of boxing,” said Rep Peter King, R-N.Y., author of the resolution.

The measure now goes to the Senate, where Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a senator from Arizona, has a companion resolution.

The bill is H. Con. Res. 214.

On the Net:

Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov

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CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Shane Mosley waits in the corner as the referee
gives a ten count to Ricardo Mayorga of Nicaragua in the 12th round during their
junior middleweight bout at the Home Depot Center on September 27, 2008 in
Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

[kikibalt]

Shane Mosley (L) looks down after knocking Ricardo Mayorga (R), of
Nicaragua, in the final seconds of the 12th round of their Junior
Middleweight bout in Carson, California, September 27, 2008.
REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES)

[kikibalt]

Shane Mosley (R) celebrates after knocking out Ricardo Mayorga (rear) of
Nicaragua in the final seconds of the 12th round of their junior middleweight
boxing bout in Carson, California, September 27, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
(UNITED STATES)

[Randyman]

Shane Mosley (R) celebrates after knocking out Ricardo Mayorga (rear) of
Nicaragua in the final seconds of the 12th round of their junior middleweight
boxing bout in Carson, California, September 27, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
(UNITED STATES)

It was a beautiful to behold. Though for a few moments I was concerned about Mayorga's health. The fight was more competitive than I would have thought and the knockout came a little later than what most of us thought it would. Mayorga's constant complaining while he was punching Mosley behind the head every chance he got was wearing thin with the crowd. I was praying for a knockout and Mosley delivered.

[Randyman]

CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Hilario Lopez takes a punch from Craig McEwan of
Scotland during their middleweight bout at the Home Depot Center on September 27,
2008 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

This is the first time I've seen McEwan and I was impressed. Freddie Roach was working the corner of this kid. He taught him well. Looks like a kid with a future.

[bennie]

CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Hilario Lopez takes a punch from Craig McEwan of
Scotland during their middleweight bout at the Home Depot Center on September 27,
2008 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

McEwan will soon get to know Amir Khan, who is going over there for a six-week training camp with Freddie. They've pushed back Khan's comeback fight here a week, to December 13, due to Pacquiao vs Golden Boy.

[bennie]

Shane Mosley (R) celebrates after knocking out Ricardo Mayorga (rear) of
Nicaragua in the final seconds of the 12th round of their junior middleweight
boxing bout in Carson, California, September 27, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
(UNITED STATES)

It was a beautiful to behold. Though for a few moments I was concerned about Mayorga's health. The fight was more competitive than I would have thought and the knockout came a little later than what most of us thought it would. Mayorga's constant complaining while he was punching Mosley behind the head every chance he got was wearing thin with the crowd. I was praying for a knockout and Mosley delivered.

Look at those ghoulish photographers! That's just plain wrong.

[bennie]

Photo & caption courtesy of Bruce Smith.


Frank,
Mourning the loss of Paul Newman up here in NorCal; seems like every time we lose someone like him it's a little chink in our own armor.
Attached is a photo of a picture box I put together for my father's 78th birthday last week. It's his amateur boxing license, boxing trunks and belt buckle that he won at a tournament at San Francisco's Olympic Club in 1954. I thought you guys would get a kick out of it.
Bobbin & Weavin

I love that stuff! Thanks.

-Rick

By the way, I found more validation, news clips, etc. regarding matches I fought not listed by Boxrec. I'll get them to you, amigo.

Nice!

[scartissue]

Shane Mosley (R) celebrates after knocking out Ricardo Mayorga (rear) of
Nicaragua in the final seconds of the 12th round of their junior middleweight
boxing bout in Carson, California, September 27, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
(UNITED STATES)

It was a beautiful to behold. Though for a few moments I was concerned about Mayorga's health. The fight was more competitive than I would have thought and the knockout came a little later than what most of us thought it would. Mayorga's constant complaining while he was punching Mosley behind the head every chance he got was wearing thin with the crowd. I was praying for a knockout and Mosley delivered.

It was very exciting but it is time for Shane to close the curtain. There was such a stark difference between his bout with Cotto and Mayorga. There was no jab, no body punches and no combinations, just gunning for that one big shot and that really bothered me. Granted, Mayorga is the poster boy for unorthodox, but Shane's reflexes just weren't there. It's gone and I don't want to see him as fodder for up and comers. I once asked Tony Zale what happened in the Cerdan fight and he said, "the night before the fight I was loosening up and everything was working to perfection. The next morning it was completely gone, no reflexes." I think it is the same here and I'd like to see Shane retire rather than carried out on his shield.

Scartissue

[bennie]

My Greatest "On Set" Memory of Paul Newman . . . "Absense of Malice"

Thruout the film industry, everybody knows the pleassure of working with certain actors. Paul Newman was one of those actors, a regular guy, as was Michael Landon and is Clint Eastwood. These guys didn't have time for bullshit, all gifted film professionals and skilled in areas behind the camera as well as in front. I worked with Newman briefly in the beginning of my career in the mid 70's. It was at Universal, where I was "breaking in" and the Film was "The Sting". The last was on a film location in New Orleans where Paul was paired with Lolita Davidovich, in a so-so film, "Blaze".

However, the most unforgetable experience took place in Florida, on the location set of an Academy Award winning film, "Absence of Malice".

Sally Field is a great actress, and I had worked on a number of feature films. On this day, we were shooting a very emotional scene involving a two-shot with Newman and Sally. Sally can be pain-in-the-ass and in the final scene of the day, she tells director Sydney Pollack, that she want's her close-up to be shot first, followed by Paul's. Newman doesn't care, ladies go first. So they do this dramatic scene where Newman's charactor has to spill his heart, tears, the whole bit.

After Newman plays off-camera to help Field play her role (she won an Oscar for it) the cameras turn around on Newman for his close-up, equally challenging. Now it's more than a courtesy for an actor to read their off-camera lines to the other's close-up. Especially when you are dealing with legends on the set. (Pollack won a directorial Oscar for Absence as well as other films.) Field pulled herself together after her C/U and said her "good bye's" leaving the set. What about her playing off camera for Newman? Paul just smiled and said nothing. Newman is a pro, and turned in a brilliant performance playing off the words of our script supervisor, a man in his sixties.

The next evening's scene was equally dramatic, the kind that challenge actors. On this day, Mr. Newman told Sydney Pollack he'd like his C/U to be shot first. Like the evening before, it was one of those emotionally challenging scenes, especially for Field. When Paul's C/U was in the can, he stood up, said his good bye's and walked off the set. Field was livid. She could not imagine pulling off a scene of this nature without the actual charactor to play off. Sally literally screamed across the set, "Come back here, You're not finished!!!"

We watched Sally run across the park following Newman who was on his way back to his motor home to have a beer. "Stop? . . . Stop" . . . . Stop!" Field sceamed. Newman never looked back, went up the steps to his motor home/dressing room and slammed the door in Field's face. The last thing we heard was Sally, screaming her lungs out . . . "You Son-of-a-Bitch!!!!!

Sally pulled off her scene without Newman, but it wasn't easy, perhaps her emotion worked for her. She got her Oscar.

We all love Paul Newman. He was the type of guy you hoped he would be. Just like Michael Landon, Clint Eastwood, James Garner. All class acts, ultimate professionals, bigger than life. How lucky for me to be able to share this story.

Again, R.I.P. Paul Newman


-Rick Farris

Thanks for sharing that Rick. Paul Newman was a true screen legend on par with the best of them, including Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda et al. The list of truly great actors is dwindling. So many great movies. Rest in Peace Mr. Newman.

Christ, they must be giving Oscars away! It's incredible how far zero charisma but a tight little ass can get you. Sally Field is shrill.

[kikibalt]

Shane Mosley (R) celebrates after knocking out Ricardo Mayorga (rear) of
Nicaragua in the final seconds of the 12th round of their junior middleweight
boxing bout in Carson, California, September 27, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
(UNITED STATES)

It was a beautiful to behold. Though for a few moments I was concerned about Mayorga's health. The fight was more competitive than I would have thought and the knockout came a little later than what most of us thought it would. Mayorga's constant complaining while he was punching Mosley behind the head every chance he got was wearing thin with the crowd. I was praying for a knockout and Mosley delivered.

It was very exciting but it is time for Shane to close the curtain. There was such a stark difference between his bout with Cotto and Mayorga. There was no jab, no body punches and no combinations, just gunning for that one big shot and that really bothered me. Granted, Mayorga is the poster boy for unorthodox, but Shane's reflexes just weren't there. It's gone and I don't want to see him as fodder for up and comers. I once asked Tony Zale what happened in the Cerdan fight and he said, "the night before the fight I was loosening up and everything was working to perfection. The next morning it was completely gone, no reflexes." I think it is the same here and I'd like to see Shane retire rather than carried out on his shield.

Scartissue

Dan, you're right, its time for Shane to hang up the gloves, same for Mayorga, Mayorga, I don't care, but I hate to see Mosley become a stepping stone for young fighters coming up.

[dagosd2000]

Shane Mosley (R) celebrates after knocking out Ricardo Mayorga (rear) of
Nicaragua in the final seconds of the 12th round of their junior middleweight
boxing bout in Carson, California, September 27, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
(UNITED STATES)

It was a beautiful to behold. Though for a few moments I was concerned about Mayorga's health. The fight was more competitive than I would have thought and the knockout came a little later than what most of us thought it would. Mayorga's constant complaining while he was punching Mosley behind the head every chance he got was wearing thin with the crowd. I was praying for a knockout and Mosley delivered.

It was very exciting but it is time for Shane to close the curtain. There was such a stark difference between his bout with Cotto and Mayorga. There was no jab, no body punches and no combinations, just gunning for that one big shot and that really bothered me. Granted, Mayorga is the poster boy for unorthodox, but Shane's reflexes just weren't there. It's gone and I don't want to see him as fodder for up and comers. I once asked Tony Zale what happened in the Cerdan fight and he said, "the night before the fight I was loosening up and everything was working to perfection. The next morning it was completely gone, no reflexes." I think it is the same here and I'd like to see Shane retire rather than carried out on his shield.

Scartissue

Scar
I have to agree.You can tell a lot about how a fighter feels in there by looking at his facial expressions between rounds. Mosley looked like he couldn't wait to get it over with and go home. You're right about a lack of a determined attack. Weak jab. No body punches. An occaisional right,but a lack of a killer effort. Mayorga's rushes bothered Shane more than if he would have caught him coming in with something.

Shane will never beat Margarito and I don't think he could mount enough effort to beat Oscar. Shane's will ,or lack of it,was evident Saturday night.

[dagosd2000]

An after thought on the fight between Mayorga and Shane. HBO is riding on the coat tails of Oscar De La Hoya promotions. After Shane caught hin with that final left I thought Larry Merchant was going to bring Mosley into his home.
"Shane Mosley,I love you."
I'm glad to see Don King start to fall by the wayside,but to go overbord with Moslet's victory was a little too much.

Another guy who should get out of the fight game is King. He's made his money . How old is he anyway? Maybe he could take up fishing. That's all Frank would need to see. Don King fishing in a boat next to him.

[Randyman]

It was very exciting but it is time for Shane to close the curtain. There was such a stark difference between his bout with Cotto and Mayorga. There was no jab, no body punches and no combinations, just gunning for that one big shot and that really bothered me. Granted, Mayorga is the poster boy for unorthodox, but Shane's reflexes just weren't there. It's gone and I don't want to see him as fodder for up and comers. I once asked Tony Zale what happened in the Cerdan fight and he said, "the night before the fight I was loosening up and everything was working to perfection. The next morning it was completely gone, no reflexes." I think it is the same here and I'd like to see Shane retire rather than carried out on his shield.

Scartissue

I agree Scar, I was thinking the same thing. Mosley, always the warrior, struggled much more than he should have with Mayorga, who even at his best, was never in the same class as Mosley. That Mosley was frustrated with himself was evident throughout the fight. He is clearly not the fighter he once was. Mayweather has to be considering coming back to fight Mosley after watching last night's fight. A couple of years ago I would have picked Mosley over Mayweather. Not now.

The down side to last night's victory is now Mosley will be looking for a fight with Antonio Margarito. It is a fight he cannot win. Ditto with Paul Williams. I hope everyone involved has enough ethics to tell Mosley it's time to hang them up. Last night fight would be a nice way for him to leave boxing. For the record: Mosley is one of the most decent guys in boxing and I wish him well, outside the ring!

[kikibalt]

An after thought on the fight between Mayorga and Shane. HBO is riding on the coat tails of Oscar De La Hoya promotions. After Shane caught hin with that final left I thought Larry Merchant was going to bring Mosley into his home.
"Shane Mosley,I love you."
I'm glad to see Don King start to fall by the wayside,but to go overbord with Moslet's victory was a little too much.

Another guy who should get out of the fight game is King. He's made his money . How old is he anyway? Maybe he could take up fishing. That's all Frank would need to see. Don King fishing in a boat next to him.

Diego,

If I took Don King Fishing with me I would have to keep an eye on his hands, He would probably try to steal my bait and any fish that I caught....

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Shane Mosley's hook is a sinker as he knocks out Ricardo Mayorga

Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times
Shane Mosley's blow to the head knocks the sweat off Ricardo Mayorga during their super-welterweight fight Saturday night.

Mosley provides big finish at Home Depot Center.
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

"Sugar" Shane Mosley says he's saved the best for the last years of his career, and he applied the same formula on Ricardo Mayorga Saturday night.

Mosley knocked out Mayorga with one second remaining in their 12-round non-title super-welterweight fight at Home Depot Center in Carson, landing a devastating left hook on Mayorga's jaw that came only seconds after he had sent Mayorga to the canvas with a three-punch combination highlighted by a stiff left hook.

"I wanted a knockout," Pomona's Mosley said. "I wanted to give the fans what they deserve."

The crowd-roaring ending punctuated a lethargic second half that allowed Mayorga to enter the 12th round leading Mosley by one point on judge Pat Russell's scorecard and trailing Mosley by one on judge Nelson Vasquez's. Judge Tony Crebs had Mosley leading Mayorga, 107-102.

"I will tell you one thing," Mayorga said after spending several seconds flat-backed on the canvas after the knockout punch, "he hit harder than I thought he would."


Mosley, 37, had a compelling ringside audience that included world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito and Leonard Ellerbe, manager of the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mosley, who earned $1.5 million to Mayorga's $550,000, said, "I have to try and find fights now."

What he proved Saturday is that he's capable of knocking out a true super-welterweight who's a former world champion. Mayorga (28-7-1) reportedly inflated from his weigh-in size of 153 1/2 pounds to 170 when he stepped on HBO's pre-fight scale.

But Mosley (45-5, 38 knockouts) didn't leave without criticism. Mayorga's flinging punching style made the former four-time world champion appear uncomfortable in the early rounds.

Mosley responded with well-placed rights that blunted Mayorga's enthusiasm, and ended the fifth round getting the better of a flurry.

Mosley dominated the sixth, picking off hooks and jabs in a routine manner that thrilled the crowd of 5,798 and indicated a knockout was coming shortly.

Um, no. The next four rounds were dominated by inaction, missed punches, Mayorga showboating and Mayorga's claiming -- or feigning -- a low blow, a kidney punch and pain due to a rabbit punch behind the head.

Mosley didn't return to the sixth-round groove until the 11th, admitting he felt Mayorga tiring. He delivered flurries, ducked out of Mayorga's attempts to wrap him up and swarmed him in the 12th, setting up the late dramatics that closed with Mosley standing impressively over his victim and looking at the crowd as if asking, "Next?"

Earlier, recently crowned World Boxing Council welterweight champion Andre Berto relied on his right-handed power to trump the boxing finesse of Steve Forbes, gaining a unanimous decision.

"Steve's a real slick kid . . . it was my speed that won it," Berto said.

Berto (23-0), who won the vacant belt in June, backed up Forbes in the first round and drew blood from near the challenger's left eye in the fourth. His harder combinations blunted Forbes' effort to score with body blows, and the judges awarded him a 118-109, 118-109, 116-111 triumph as Forbes (33-7) dropped his second fight in less than five months in Carson.

In May, Forbes suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Oscar De La Hoya at Home Depot Center's soccer stadium.

In other action: Former world welterweight champion Luis Collazo (29-3, 14 KOs), who lost to Mosley by unanimous decision last year, scored an eighth-round technical knockout over Russell Jordan in a super-welterweight bout; Golden Boy Promotions prospect Daniel Jacobs (10-0) knocked down Emmanuel Gonzalez twice en route to a six-round unanimous decision; heavyweight Ray Austin (25-4-4) beat Dominic Jenkins by unanimous decision; and Scotland's Craig McEwan remained unbeaten (12-0) with a one-sided decision over Hilario Lopez.

[email protected]

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Ricardo Mayorga lands a shot inside against Shane Mosley during their
super-welterweight fight on Saturday night.

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Shane Mosley walks away from a fallen Ricardo Mayorga, who he dropped
for a second time in the 12th round to win their super-welterweight
bout on Saturday night.

[bennie]

Ricardo Mayorga lands a shot inside against Shane Mosley during their
super-welterweight fight on Saturday night.

Shane looks OLD.

[kikibalt]

Ricardo Mayorga lands a shot inside against Shane Mosley during their
super-welterweight fight on Saturday night.

Shane looks OLD.

He is old, for a fighter anyway.....