BoxRec

There seems to be a lot of rumours going around that Shane Mosley is like De La Hoya dropping back to his more nautral weight Welterweight.

Shane Mosley is doing what many feel he is entirely overdue for. Shane says he's on a new Diet plan that will lower him down to the weight he once claimed would be impossible for him to reach again.

I think Shane feels he has DLH number and that is the only fight he wants. I don't blame him, as good as his effort vs Wright I can only see him beating Santos at Light Middle.

Mind you, I think DLH will get the decision in a third meeting.

Too late I feel, he's already an old man in boxing terms. His power will be more effective at welter, but he's not going to get any faster. Also, the warning signs about dropping weight are there, all he has to do is look at Jones, to see what dropping divisions at an advanced age will do to you. He wasn't carrying any fat at the higher weight, so he's going to have to drop several pounds of muscle, not good for a man who's getting towards his mid-thirties.

All I can see for Mosley is a defeat whenever he fights anyone with reasonable movement, and a chin. I've no wish to see him stalking round the ring looking for one punch. It'd be a sad end for someone who was so good.

I think fighters like Mosely are stupid for fighting so far out of their natural weight division. What's wrong with the old days when a great fighter would just settle in his weight class and take on all-comers and look to establish himself as an all-time great in that division, set records etc.

Since Leonard and Hearns starting jumping around everywhere it's gotten silly.

Goz wrote:I think fighters like Mosely are stupid for fighting so far out of their natural weight division. What's wrong with the old days when a great fighter would just settle in his weight class and take on all-comers and look to establish himself as an all-time great in that division, set records etc.

Since Leonard and Hearns starting jumping around everywhere it's gotten silly.

I agree 100%

Too much credit is given to fighters moving up and down weights at times by fans and the media.

I wish more fighters looked at Haglers career, same division since the age of 16!!

Yes nature will force some fighters to move up from time to time but not to the extent they do these days.

You know, I've always liked Moseley's attitude and the way he has given respect to his opponents all through his career. But it really irritated me when he pranced around with the belts after getting the nod versus De La Hoya in their rematch, when it was blatantly obvious he felt he had lost the fight on the night; "look son, you're losing this fight, okay?" - remember those words being picked up by the Sky camera before round 9 or so? He was a car crash waiting to happen at 154, it was probably the least shocking defeat of a high-profile fighter that year. I never bothered watching the rematch or following the buildup. Didn't think he deserved it, but I also just couldn't get up for it - could see a repeat of the first result a mile off, allbe the fight a bit different. That's why I really hope he doesn't walk straight into a big money fight with De La Hoya at his first or second fight at welter. Needs to earn it, to prove himself, in my opinion.

Mosley will be a better fighter if he moves back down to Welterweight IMO. I would love to see him in with someone like Antonio Margarito, i think that would be a great fight. :)

Mosley had DLH's number when he was juiced up lets see how he fares on an even playing field.

007 wrote:Mosley had DLH's number when he was juiced up lets see how he fares on an even playing field.

He lost to DLH in the rematch, most people (infact all except for judges) see it as 1-1.

People talk about the first fight as if it was a kicking, even this site has "uncontrovesial decision" in Mosley's bio, I agree it was the right decision, but was very close fight (no more the 2 points). Had to score a win for DLH, but I don't think it was proof that Mosley had his number.

I think Mosley and DLH are very evenly matched and that showed in both fights, i hope they make a third at some point but if they do there will then probably be a fourth and i worry where it will all end

If they fight again DLH will win I am sure of that - Mosley has looked worse and worse since the whole Balco thing broke and he stopped taking whatever it was he was taking.

I think Mosley looked pretty good in his rematch with Winky, he just wasn't big enough that's all.

It may be too late in the game for the move down, but he simply doesn't have enough power consistently to campaign at LM.

Mosley v Tszyu at welterweight anyone?

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Mosley v Tszyu at welterweight anyone?

Only a couple of years too late.

Although we disagreed about how a match between these two would have gone had Mosley not jumped straight to welter, I don't think there could be a massive argument in favour of Mosley should the fight happen now. Tszyu would beat this version of Shane fairly easily I think, even easier if it proves a real struggle for Mosley to drop the extra weight.

Personally, I'd like to see Mosley look for Spinks or a third meeting with De la Hoya. The Spinks fight because I feel that it's one that Mosley could win, and the De La Hoya fight because they are two very evenly matched fighters, and the contest could still go either way at this stage of their careers.

glittermonkey wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Mosley v Tszyu at welterweight anyone?

Only a couple of years too late.

Although we disagreed about how a match between these two would have gone had Mosley not jumped straight to welter, I don't think there could be a massive argument in favour of Mosley should the fight happen now. Tszyu would beat this version of Shane fairly easily I think, even easier if it proves a real struggle for Mosley to drop the extra weight.

Personally, I'd like to see Mosley look for Spinks or a third meeting with De la Hoya. The Spinks fight because I feel that it's one that Mosley could win, and the De La Hoya fight because they are two very evenly matched fighters, and the contest could still go either way at this stage of their careers.

I cannot think of a single opponent that Tszyu has faced which has the composite abilities Shane has, even the depleted version of Shane is a class and dangerous fighter.

I would favour Tszyu now, as I don't think Shane will be quick enough to really trouble him any more.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

glittermonkey wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Mosley v Tszyu at welterweight anyone?

Only a couple of years too late.

Although we disagreed about how a match between these two would have gone had Mosley not jumped straight to welter, I don't think there could be a massive argument in favour of Mosley should the fight happen now. Tszyu would beat this version of Shane fairly easily I think, even easier if it proves a real struggle for Mosley to drop the extra weight.

Personally, I'd like to see Mosley look for Spinks or a third meeting with De la Hoya. The Spinks fight because I feel that it's one that Mosley could win, and the De La Hoya fight because they are two very evenly matched fighters, and the contest could still go either way at this stage of their careers.

I cannot think of a single opponent that Tszyu has faced which has the composite abilities Shane has, even the depleted version of Shane is a class and dangerous fighter.

I would favour Tszyu now, as I don't think Shane will be quick enough to really trouble him any more.

The composite abilities that Shane had you mean. Mosley in his prime would be unquestionably a better all round fighter than anyone Tszyu has faced, although I stick by the fact that I think Tszyu would have had just enough to win had they ever fought.

But the Mosley of now has lost some of the things that made him special in the first place. The very top men like Tszyu would beat him nine times out of ten now I feel, although, as I said, there are still fighters of a high calibre that he might do well against.

It would be an interesting fight at welterweight though, Mosley will surely be a little quicker than he was at LM, and we haven't really seen Tszyu tested as yet.

One thing is for sure, there's no way Mosley will fold like a deck of cards like Mitchell, his whiskers are too damend good.

Without wishing to be too harsh on Mitchell, I get the feeling that Mosley wouldn't be beaten before he steps through the ropes, which is (I believe anyway) what happened to Sharmba. Not only does Mosley have a better chin than Mitchell, but he's better mentally too.

Mosley has won 1 of his last 6 and was well beaten by Wright last time out, but a fight with Tszyu would still be a huge one for the fans and a real pick 'em considering Shane actually looked better than he has for some time in the Winky rematch. Really fit and strong. Like James says he was just in there with too big an opponent.

Given the choice between Kostya v Mosley and Kostya v Hatton I'd go for the former every time. One is a 50-50, the other a whitewash.

I don't think Hatton would get trounced by Tszyu at all, I think his pressure style would make things difficult for Tszyu, and Hatton's stamina and workrate would give him a good chance of winning rounds. It just depends whether Tszyu catches up with him early or late. If it's early, then Hatton has problems, if it's late, then he has a chance of hanging in there for a points win.

James are you having a laugh? While Hatton is busy trying to apply this pressure is Tszyu suddenly going to forget how to punch?

The champ will walk right through him.

Let's wait and see if it happens. Hatton is better than people give him credit for, and I do genuinely believe his style is going to give Tszyu problems. When he has to, Hatton can box and use the angles well and has a decent defence.

Funnily enough, a lot of Americans see Hatton as having a better chance against Tszyu than he would against Cotto.

You're right lets wait and see. I'd love Hatton to prove me wrong. But the way I see it he's had 38 fights of dishing out punishment, same thing just about every time. When the day comes for him to step up and face someone he's not favoured to beat i.e Tszyu, Cotto, Mayweather, Gatti, Harris we'll finally see something different.

I'd actually prefer Hatton to take on a 50-50 rather than going for the Tszyu fight where he'll likely get exposed in a big way. Branco, Pinto, Augustus or N'Dou would suffice.

I don't think any of those are 50-50 fights. I think Hatton would go through them all. That's why it's such a pisser we never saw the fights happen.

I think outside of the elite fighters, there isn't anyone else out there who is going to test Hatton unduly.

Branco - Solid boxer and very strong, as Junior Witter will find out (great match up)

Augustus - Far and away more ability than anyone Hatton has shared a ring with, give him 8 weeks notice and he'll give Ricky nightmares all night.

Pinto - Young, tough and can punch. Not your typical Hatton opponent it's safe to say.

N'Dou - NOT just another Ben Tackie. Throws quality punches and is hard as nails.


All these fighters would be great fights for Hatton fans after the never ending string of guys with clear weaknessess.

Another way of looking at matters.

N'dou, tough, hard as nails, blah-blah, lacks imagination to give Hatton a really hard fight, would be kept at bay all night and punished when he comes in.

Pinto, unproven mystery man whose reputation was built of very little, can punch, but then so can a lot of fighters.

Augustus, talented but unpredictable fighter who would probably give Hatton some problems, but he's not exactly a name opponent.

Branco, European level fighter who does well against world class opponents, but who is not world class, is favoured by his points loss to Gatti, who was recovering from hand surgery.